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Traveller Encampment In Whitton Park: Request For Feedback On Preventative Measures

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Whitton Park fence repair

Long Leys Residents Association (LLRA) will be attending a meeting of the Carholme Community Forum* (CCF) on the evening of Tuesday 13 August. One topic under discussion will be the recent experience with the traveller encampment on Whitton Park and how such experiences can be avoided in the future. Any constructive suggestions from residents that LLRA could take to this meeting would be appreciated, related to:

  • Short term: The effectiveness of the overall response in recovering Whitton Park once the encampment had been established.
  • Long term: What measures could be taken to prevent similar encampments in the future.

In addition, LLRA will be asking about the wider provision of traveller accommodation within Lincolnshire.

To permit inclusion as part of the CCF discussion, please email: LLRA@long-leys.org with any suggestions by 4pm Tuesday 13 August.

Approx timeline to Whitton Park encampment as LLRA understands it

  • 9pm Thurs 1 August: Resident reports of the Whitton Park fence being broken and a number of vehicles parked in the park.
  • Fri 2 August: City Council officials aware of encampment and legal team begin the legal process to remove the encampment.
  • 9am Monday 5 August: City Council legal team submit request for a court hearing of a possession order. Court schedules a hearing for following day at 2pm. Travellers notified of court hearing by legal team with the placement of notices by the broken fence in Whitton Park.
  • 2pm Tuesday 6 August: Court hearing takes place and possession order granted.
  • 4pm Tuesday 6 August: Copy of possession order placed by broken fence at Whitton Park.
  • 9pm Tuesday 6 August: Majority of travellers had left the site.
  • 7am Wednesday 7 August: No travellers left on the site.
  • 2pm Wednesday 7 August: Council contractors completed clearance of Whitton Park and the adjacent Hobblers Hole of a van load of general waste, discarded tyres, gas canisters and human excrement. The fence was repaired. Wooden post were concreted in behind the fence.
  • Thursday 8 August: Council contractors mowed the park area.

Note:
* LLRA committee members represent Long Leys on the Carholme Community Forum. This is a group that meets around ten times throughout the year to discuss and address local issues. Attendees include local councillors, other residents’ groups (such as the West End Residents Association), Lincolnshire Police, University of Lincoln and the UL Student Union and St. Faiths’s Church.

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