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05
Sept 2021
Last Updated: 05/09/2021
Harrogate school takes legal action after travellers return
Ashville College begins court proceedings after the return of the travellers raised safeguarding concerns for pupils set to return to school this week.
Ashville College has said it has commenced court proceedings to evict a number of travellers after they returned this weekend.
About six caravans drove onto Ashville's sports playing fields, near the boarding houses, on Yew Tree Lane.
It is believed it is the same group that pitched up two weeks ago.
Ashville College said in a statement it is a major safeguarding concern as boarding pupils have now moved back in ready for the new school term to begin this week.
It added it had begun court proceedings to have the group removed.
A spokesman for Ashville College said:
“A group of travellers who illegally moved on to our sports fields two weeks ago have regrettably returned.
“With our boarding pupils now here for the start of the new school year, and day pupils returning in just a few days, this is a major concern for us.
“We have once again called the police, and have alerted our solicitors to begin court proceedings to have them evicted.”
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When the travellers arrived two weeks ago, they told school staff they were on their way to a wedding in Ireland after attending the annual Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria.
The travellers said if the school paid them £5,000 they were prepared to leave immediately without causing any damage.
They left leaving no damage three days later.
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