More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Home Folkestone News Article
A council is preparing to take action against two unauthorised traveller sites.
The encampments can be found at the Lower Leas car park in Folkestone, off Lower Sandgate Road, and on the recreation ground in Horn Street, Hythe.
Several complaints were made to police after the caravans and cars appeared in the Folkestone car park, part of the Lower Leas Coastal Park, on Friday.
And now officers from Folkestone and Hythe District Council plan to attend the lot today, accompanied by Kent Police, in a bid to get the travellers to move on.
And council bosses are warning that steps will be taken to 'secure their removal'.
The council is also assisting Hythe Town Council in dealing with an illegal campsite on the green in Hythe - which has reportedly seen damage caused to the grounds.
A post on social media said: "Travellers have arrived at Horn Street park again, destroyed the gate again and are currently tearing up the field with their cars and caravans."
Another post said: "You should have seen the mess the council had to remove last time they were there."
A spokesman for Folkestone and Hythe District Council said today: "We are aware of two unauthorised encampments in our district, at Horn Street recreation ground in Hythe and the Lower Leas car park.
"The car park is covered by existing by-laws which means we are able to act quickly and as a result we intend to visit the site today with police to instruct those camped there to leave.
"If they do not, we will be able to take steps to secure their removal.
"The recreation ground is owned by Hythe Town Council and we are working to support them with the necessary legal processes.
"Our staff visited both sites this morning and will continue to monitor the situation.
"We would ask anyone who witnesses any anti-social behaviour or criminality to report it to Kent Police via 101 or online."
A spokesman for Kent Police added: "Kent Police received a report of a number of caravans and cars parked in a car park off the Leas in Folkestone at around 6.30pm on April 12."
