A council has said it is doing all it can to "regain possession" of one its parks after a number of travellers pitched up.
Several caravans were spotted at Bourne Park over the weekend after arriving in the town on Friday afternoon.
Ipswich Borough Council has now said it is taking steps to regain the land.
A spokesman for IBC said: "The council is taking all necessary steps to regain possession of the land and return it to its normal use.”
A spokesperson for Suffolk police confirmed that they were aware of the situation and said that the council were also aware.
What can Ipswich Borough Council do to move the travellers on from Bourne Park?
Ipswich Borough Council, like all local authorities, has to follow a process laid down by law to remove illegal encampments. This involves taking the following steps:
- Informing the travellers they are illegally occupying our land;
- Meeting Suffolk County Council representatives, the Police (where appropriate) and other partners to organise a welfare visit to ensure the general health, welfare and education needs of the children are being met;
- Holding a case conference to consider any issues and, if agreed, deciding to take eviction action;
- Applying to the court for a hearing date;
- Serving papers informing the travellers we are going to seek an eviction notice;
- Going to court and asking magistrates for permission to evict;
- If granted, serving the eviction notice;
- Cleaning the site for public use once the travellers leave;
- If travellers do not leave within the period specified on the eviction notice, the Council must apply to the Court to enforce the eviction notice. It will then work with the Court Bailiff and Police to remove the encampment.
