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Thanet travellers: Group at Dane Valley in Margate same as Dreamland car park and Ramsgate Esplanade

Travellers kicked off a tourist attraction car park after camping illegally for several weeks have pitched up at another new site.

The group arrived at Dane Valley Wood in Margate over the weekend - just a few miles from Dreamland car park where they were evicted last week.

It is their second new site in less than a week after the group moved to Ramsgate Esplanade within minutes of being ordered to leave by police and council enforcement teams.

Travellers from the Dreamland car park in Margate were removed by council teams and the police (7292487)
Travellers from the Dreamland car park in Margate were removed by council teams and the police (7292487)

Piles of rubbish, rubble and waste were left behind at the car park in Margate.

Caravans and dozens of vehicles arrived at the Dane Valley park and Thanet District Council (TDC) teams have visited and issued them with an eviction notice.

The saga has been described as a merry-go-round by residents angry at the travellers for moving from site to site across Thanet.

Another traveller camp was spotted next to the A299 by the runway at Manston Airport - but it is not known if it is the same group as the Dreamland and Ramsgate one.

A councillor says TDC needs to work on a new long-term strategy to locate travellers.

Everything from rubble and broken toilets to kids’ scooters and bikes has been dumped, Cllr Lesley Game said. Picture: Swift Aerial Photography
Everything from rubble and broken toilets to kids’ scooters and bikes has been dumped, Cllr Lesley Game said. Picture: Swift Aerial Photography

Cllr Iris Johnston (Lab), who represents Margate Central ward at TDC, said she has called on the council's chief executive to review a decision not to establish a permanent site for travellers six years ago.

"Since then there has been an increase in incursions and I have written to the chief executive at TDC to ask if there is a review planned,” she said.

"It has been disruptive and I know involves TDC in expense both for legal action, subsequent clean up and thorough welfare checks."

Travellers previously encamped next to Dreamland have moved from to the Marine Esplanade car park in Ramsgate
Travellers previously encamped next to Dreamland have moved from to the Marine Esplanade car park in Ramsgate

A council spokesman confirmed it is the same group that was moved on from Dreamland on February 11.

In a statement, the council said: "We are aware of the unauthorised traveller encampment which we have ascertained is the same group that were at Dreamland Car Park.

"Officers from Thanet District Council visited the group on Monday 18 February to conduct the required welfare assessments.

"On completion of the visit officers issued a Section 77 Order."

The order means the travellers have to move on and can face prosecution if it is ignored.

Section 77 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 gives the council authority to order people living in vehicles to move off public land, a highway, unoccupied land or land where there is no permission for them to stay.

Travellers can be prosecuted if they return to the same piece of land within three months of a section 77 order being issued.

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