Winchester City Council issues notice against traveller encampment

The notice has been stuck to the door of the waiting room at the Park and Ride, and calls for the travellers to leave the site by 8am on Friday, May 3.

Anyone who does not comply with the order will be committing an offence and will receive a fine.

The large car park off Otterbourne Road is often used by Travellers parking at the southern end.

Addressed to “Persons unknown”, the notice reads: “It appears to Winchester City Council (“The Council”) being the local authority, that you are for the time being residing in vehicles/caravans within their area on land at South Winchester Park and Ride site, Otterbourne Road, Compton, Winchester, Hampshire (“The Land”) without the consent of the owner.

The legal notice (Image: Contributed)

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“In accordance with their powers under section 77(1) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, the Council direct that you and any other persons with you are to leave the land and remove the vehicles and any other property which you have with you or they have with them on the land."

The travellers must not return within three months or they will be committing an offence.

A city council spokeswoman said: “We are aware of an unauthorised encampment at South Winchester Park and Ride, officers have visited the site and following the necessary welfare checks, notice has been served – there is a legal process that has to be followed in order to remove unauthorised encampments.”

A police spokesman said: “We are aware of an unauthorised encampment at the Winchester South Park and Ride car park. Our officers have attended the site and are liaising with the landowner to seek a suitable resolution.”

A police spokesperson told the Chronicle that, as of 10.15am on Friday, May 3, the illegal encampment is still at the Park and Ride.