Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has written to Home Secretary Priti Patel about speeding up measures to evict Travellers who break the law.
The Conservative MP said the recent encampment at Hay-a-Park in Knaresborough produced “disorder and anti-social behaviour completely off the scale compared to that associated with previous traveller encampments in our area”.
Mr Jones said his comments were based on reports received from residents, police and landowner Harrogate Borough Council.
Writing on his Community News website, he said:
“Vandalism of property, damage to cars, late night motorbike and quad bike racing through residential estates, break-ins at barns, use of pavements and open space as a toilet were just some of the unpleasantness residents nearby reported and had to put up with.”
Mr Jones added that some Travellers had “took the openness and generosity of spirit which is the hallmark of our communities and simply abused it” and further action was needed to “protect the rights and property of residents against future incursions of this nature”.
Eviction currently takes place three days after notice is served.
“I have written to the Home Secretary asking her to look at ways in which enforcement can be brought forward on the advice of the police where law-breaking occurs from the activities of a travelling community.
“I have also written to our local Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Zoe Metcalfe, asking her to look at the policing of this encampment and to see if any improvements could be made with the benefit of this experience.
“Finally, I have asked the council to look at how it can secure public land more effectively and more anticipate the movements of travelling communities and provide appropriate sites to be used as layovers for them.”
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Mr Jones described the Traveller encampment as “a darker episode for many” amid recent celebrations, such as Knaresborough Bed Race and the Queen’s platinum jubilee.
“I want to make sure that local people and travelling communities can enjoy their everyday lives in peace.
“It is a shame when the minority act in a way that risks labelling the majority and that is what my actions are seeking to avoid.”
Calls for more temporary sites for Travellers in Harrogate district
There have been calls for Travellers to have more temporary sites in the Harrogate district.
Cllr David Goode, who is a resident in Knaresborough and a Liberal Democrat town councillor, said recent groups of Travellers setting up camp had been met with “negative feelings” from locals.
Travellers parked on the old rugby field on Hay-a-Park Lane last week and were served legal notice to leave by Harrogate Borough Council.
Several caravans and cars also parked on the Stray near to Oatlands Drive.
All the Travellers have now moved on.
Cllr Goode said while the council has already set up a permanent designated Travellers site off the Knaresborough bypass, there needed to be more transit sites where groups can stay temporarily.
He added that council officials should start to engage with local Gypsy and Travellers trusts to find out what more can be done.
Cllr Goode said:
“My thinking coming out of this is to start engaging with the local Gypsy trust.
“They will know the issues.”
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Sharon Calvert, who also lives in Knaresborough and has worked with Travellers in her role in education, shared the view that more temporary sites should be set up.
She said:
“What they need is to have a transit site. There are always going to be Travellers coming through [the district].
“We need some joined up thinking on this. There needs to be some temporary sites on the A1 with running water and facilities to get rid of rubbish. There must be some sites.”
‘Engagement is number one’
Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange, a charity which aims to improve the quality of life for the communities, said engagement with Gypsy and Travellers in the first instance was important.
In September 2020 the organisation worked with Leeds City Council to create a good practice guide to design Traveller sites as part of its work.
A spokesperson for Leeds GATE told the Stray Ferret that it was important for authorities to make those community links to better understand Gypsy and Traveller people.
They said:
“The engagement with the community is number one. Whether it is a council or a planning department, they really need to make those community links.
“There are organisations that people can speak to. We at Leeds GATE are here and we do make ourselves known.”
In the Harrogate district, North Yorkshire County Council owns and maintains two designated sites for Travellers.
One is at Bickerton and another is off Thistle Hill in Knaresborough.
Council starts legal proceedings against Travellers in KnaresboroughHarrogate Borough Council has commenced legal proceedings against a group of Travellers in Knaresborough.
The group set up camp on the rugby field on Hay-a-Park Lane last week.
It is thought that the Travellers were on their way to Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria. However, the fair started yesterday and Travellers still remained in Knaresborough today.
Officers from North Yorkshire Police have been at the site this morning.
A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council said:
“We have commenced legal proceedings and notices have been served.”
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Travellers also parked on the Stray in Harrogate last week.
Six caravans and several cars arrived on the parkland near to Oatlands Drive on Saturday.
However, the group left the area on Monday.
Travellers leave Harrogate’s StrayA group of Travellers who set up camp on Harrogate’s Stray have now left.
Six caravans and several cars arrived on the section near to Oatlands Drive on Saturday.
It is thought that the Travellers were on their way to Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria, which starts on Thursday.
Harrogate Borough Council, which is the legal protector of the Stray, was due to begin the eviction process today, according to the Stray Defence Association.
But the Travellers are believed to have vacated the parkland yesterday.
Travellers also parked on the old rugby field at Knaresborough three days earlier and remain on site.
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A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council confirmed that the travellers in Knaresborough were now subject to a legal process.
The spokesperson said:
Council to start moves to evict Travellers on Harrogate Stray tomorrow“The travellers in Knaresborough are being managed through the legal process and a team will undertake a clear up (if required) once they have gone.”
Harrogate Borough Council looks set to begin legal moves to evict Travellers on the Stray tomorrow.
Six caravans and several cars arrived on the Oatlands section of the Stray yesterday.
Three days earlier Travellers also parked on the old rugby field at Knaresborough.
The council, which is the legal protector of the Stray, has not replied to the Stray Ferret’s request for information about what action it is taking.
But Judy d’Arcy Thompson, chair of the Stray Defence Association, said the council had informed her that is is “aware and prepared to serve papers on Monday if required with a court hearing already scheduled for Thursday. Unfortunately due to the legal process, this is the fastest we can progress the situation.”
It is thought the Travellers are on their way to Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria, which begins on Thursday.
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Ms d’Arcy Thompson said the council had informed her that its street cleaning team was “prepared to check the area and clear any waste left behind”.
She added the council appeared to be doing everything it could to resolve the situation, adding:
“With experience of similar events in the past we appreciate the complexity of the legal process.
“We naturally hope that they respect our Stray and that the minimum of mess and damage is left behind when they depart.”
The Stray Defence Association was founded in 1933 to safeguard the Stray against building and encroachment.
Travellers arrive on Harrogate’s StrayA group of Travellers has set up an encampment on the Stray in Harrogate today.
Six caravans and a car are parked on the section of the Stray just off Oatlands Drive.
They are believed to have arrived this afternoon.
The Stray Ferret spoke to dog walkers on the parkland near to the caravans this afternoon.
They said they walk on the land regularly and hadn’t noticed the vehicles until this afternoon.
It comes days after Travellers also set up camp on the old rugby field in Knaresborough.
The Stray Ferret has asked Harrogate Borough Council, which is the protector of the Stray, whether it is aware of the issue and if it is taking any action, but has yet to receive a response.
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Masham Parish Council has said it is exploring measures to stop travellers camping on the town’s village green.
Travellers have pitched up on the green, alongside The Avenue, for many years but after a group arrived last month the council has said it is time to explore tougher measures.
Currently there is a height barrier at the entrance and an industrial lock.
However, when the travellers arrived before Appleby Horse Fair last month the lock was cut off, allowing access to the patch of land. They stayed for about 10 days.
According to the council, litter and human excrement was left behind and a lifebelt, kept on the river bank for emergencies, had been thrown into the River Ure. It was found in the water by fire crews with the rope cut.
Masham Parish Council said discussion were underway to see what could be done, with CCTV cameras among the options being discussed.
Cllr Ian Johnson said:
“It happens each year but this is the first time they’ve cut the lock. It’s an industrial one so it won’t have been easy to remove. We are looking into what we can do ahead of next year.”
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The council will now spend about £100 on a new rope for the lifebelt and look into replacing a missing picnic bench.
The area, known to locals as Shooting Holme, is often used for picnics and exercise.
Harrogate’s Ashville College reports battery thefts after travellers departHarrogate’s Ashville College has reported the theft of batteries from lighting towers to police after travellers left the school’s playing fields.
Caravans departed the fields on Yew Tree Lane yesterday after an altercation, believed to be between two travellers, on Saturday night.
It was the second time in a fortnight caravans had pitched up at Ashville, sparking safeguarding concerns about pupils returning to the fee-paying school this term.
A spokesman for Ashville College said today:
“The travellers who arrived on Saturday and set up an illegal camp on our sports pitches have finally left.
“However, since their departure, we have discovered that a number of batteries from two lighting towers have been stolen. In addition to cutting wires, the culprits have also damaged the lifting mechanisms, and we have reported this to the police.
“We would like to thank the local policing team for their support and their continued on-site presence was a great comfort to members of staff and returning boarding pupils.”
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North Yorkshire Police said in a statement this afternoon the travellers had moved on “following intervention by Harrogate’s neighbourhood policing team”.
The statement added officers have been “working with land owners including the council to ensure security is maintained at other potential sites around the district”.
Travellers also descended on Hay-a-Park rugby field in Knaresborough last month.
Chief Inspector Andy Colbourne said:
Travellers depart Harrogate’s Ashville College after fracas leaves man in hospital“Communication is key in resolving community matters such as this, which can cause tensions on all sides if they are not managed properly.
“By working closely with all concerned as well as the wider local community, we’ve been able to help deliver a relatively swift resolution and prevent any further disruption.”
Travellers have left Harrogate’s Ashville College following a fracas on Saturday night that left one man in hospital.
Six caravans returned to the playing fields at the fee-paying school last week a fortnight after a previous encampment, thought to be the same group of people, pitched up.
Their presence raised safeguarding concerns that could have disrupted the new school term, which is due to start this week.
But following a disturbance on Saturday night, most of the travellers have now gone — and the few remaining are expected to depart today.
A spokesman for Ashville College said:
“Of the six caravans that returned on Saturday afternoon, just one remains and they are expected to leave this afternoon.
“Their departure follows an incident on Saturday night confined to this group, which resulted in police attending the scene and one man being taken to hospital. There has been a police presence since the incident occurred.
“We would like to emphasise that no member of the school community was involved in any way, and parents and staff have been fully appraised of the situation.”
School reviewing security
The school is now looking at ways to prevent travellers returning a third time. The spokesman said:
“A full review of the site security was already underway, and this process will now be expedited.”
A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said the incident was believed to be an altercation between two men at the location.
The spokesman added:
“Both were arrested and bailed pending further enquiries.
“We will be reviewing this tomorrow with the local Neighbourhood Policing Team.”
No staff, students or anyone else connected with the college is believed to have been involved.
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Harrogate school takes legal action after travellers return
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.