Page 29 - December 2015 Issue 300

DECEMBER 2015
THE NEW COUNTESTHORPE HERALD 29
as it simply moves the problem, but they have provided advice that seeking an injunction is a disproportionately high cost and it would need to extend to every piece of land owned by the Council, which is extremely difficult to justify to a Court. I can assure you that now we have joined the compact agreement, the financial liability and the responsibility for the continued removal of this individual and indeed any other encampment is the responsibility of MATU rather than this Council directly. They are in a position to obtain orders swiftly and have done so. I would suspect that if this individual does continue to move around the district, they will attempt to take action which is more sustainable and effective. Regards Jon David - Greetings Herald Copied FYI: The reference to Human Rights is astounding. What about the rights of people whose lives are blighted by the actions of this caravan owner. Pitches are available in the Blaby District Council area, where caravans can park and have electricity, mains water and sewage disposal provided. The problem is that the caravan owner would have to pay for the services. This way, it is the residents of Blaby District Council who have to pay for the large court and other costs. The money could be better spent. So much for Human Rights. David Jennings.
AM 23rd October: Good morning Jon. You will no doubt already be aware that the caravan has gone. I would appreciate any updates if he appears anywhere else. Many thanks, David Jennings.
PM 23rd October: Hi David, Yes he left after we obtained a court order. I understand he has now appeared in Littlethorpe. Regards Jon
THE MAN IN THE VAN
Not quite Alan Bennett’s ‘Lady in the Van’ (which is about to hit the big screen with Maggie Smith in the lead role) but there has been a problem with a man in a caravan. David Jennings has been busy with the emails to stop the mobile home becoming too static.
AM 16th October. Good morning Jon. The Caravan formerly on the BDC Car Park in Central Street in Countesthorpe, has now moved on to the open green space on Rosebank Road in Countesthorpe ( opposite to Shetland Way ). BDC is looking very silly. Did the Court Order cover all council owned land, or just the Central Street Car Park? I am already getting reaction from village residents. Strong action is required. Please inform me as a matter of urgency of all proposed action to be taken.
Many thanks, David Jennings.
PM 16th October: Good afternoon David, The individual and caravan have been working their way around our carparks across the District, as the vehicle is a residence we have had to take steps to ensure that we are removing the vehicle in a lawful way and not breaching the Human Rights Act. One option we have is to use the Car Parking Order, however due to the Human Rights element, we have to obtain a health and any other assessment to ensure that we are taking account of the needs of the individual, this is because he is residing in the vehicle. We then have to determine where to store the caravan
(and pay for that storage) and also enable access to it as it is someone’s residence as well as accepting that when he gets the caravan back it may simply be taken onto another car park again.
As such we approached the legal team and the Multi Agency Traveller Unit (MATU) at the County Council for assistance as they have the specialist knowledge and experience for removing travellers who are unlawfully parked/camped on land. We have decided that the most cost effective solution is to join a Compact Agreement, which the majority of Councils in Leicestershire are signatory too, which enables the County Council to act on our behalf, utilising their expertise and knowledge of the travellers concerned. We have expressed our concerns to MATU that the action to remove the Traveller from one piece of land for him simply to move to another is relatively ineffective