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Travellers pitch up at new site in St Gregory's Crescent, Gravesend, after leaving Northfleet

12:03, 26 August 2022

updated: 12:42, 26 August 2022

The local authority is working to remove more travellers who have turned up on a public field.

Kent Police and Gravesham Borough Council were made aware of the caravans pitching up at St Gregory's Crescent in Gravesend on Wednesday.

Travellers have pitched up in St Gregory's Crescent, Gravesend
Travellers have pitched up in St Gregory's Crescent, Gravesend
Washing can be seen draped over the children's park in St Gregory's Crescent, Gravesend
Washing can be seen draped over the children's park in St Gregory's Crescent, Gravesend

It comes after around 20 of them were at Wombwell Park in Northfleet earlier this week.

The council says it is "taking all necessary legal steps to have them moved on".

It is thought the Mitchell Avenue, Northfleet, site is now empty while the new encampment is set up on the field near St Aidan's Way.

One reporter at the scene described seeing at least 10 caravans parked up around the outside of the field.

A police spokesman said: "Kent Police was called at 12.15am on Wednesday August, 24, to a report of an unauthorised encampment at St Gregory’s Cresent, Gravesend.

The council says it is doing it all it can to move them on
The council says it is doing it all it can to move them on

"Officers attended and have been liaising with the local authority who are the landowners for this location."

When pitched up in Northfleet the travellers were given a Section 61 order - emergency powers to direct people to leave – by officers instructing them to leave.

One Medway man, who owns land used for a bootfair sale and was disrupted by travellers, took it upon himself to ensure none make it back onto his fields.

Mark Greenfield – who rents the site in Upnor – installed four anti-tank defences, locked the gates with two chains and hired a security guard.

This was after he heard about caravans moving onto a park in Gillingham.

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