‘A shame’ to evict New Age travellers (From Thisisdorset)

‘A shame’ to evict New Age travellers

11:51am Friday 6th October 2006 in News By Sharen Green

THE Forestry Commission is taking a group of New Age travellers to the High Court in a bid to remove them from land in North Dorset.

But residents of Milton Abbas do not seem to object to their presence and dismay has been expressed at the proposed eviction.

The group of 15 adults and three children have been living in Milton Woods since February and residents have been avoiding walking their dogs there, it has been claimed.

Commission spokeswoman Jo Fowler said: "The Forestry Commission continues to pursue action to remove travellers from a woodland close to Milton Abbas in Dorset.

"On August 21 a district judge in Weymouth heard the Forestry Commission's application for an injunction to remove the travellers.

"The injunction, if granted, would have made it a criminal offence for them to remain on the site.

"This application, which was appealed by solicitors acting for the travellers, was referred to the High Court in Winchester. Unfortunately the earliest available date is in November."

Forestry staff said there was mess and litter at the site and that residents were avoiding using the woods, Ms Fowler added.

But parish council chairman Ian Maxwell disagreed, saying he had received no complaints, quite the contrary.

And teacher Sandra Maxwell said the travellers mostly went to work during the day and kept the place tidy.

"It's a shame (that they're being evicted) - it will interrupt the children's education," she said.

Gypsy liaison officer for Dorset County Council Mike Evans said: "We have had four calls from residents (about the encampment) which is not many complaints, considering they have been there quite a long time.

"They're a decent bunch - there are no behaviour problems to talk of.

"The problem we have is there are no approved stopping places for travellers in Dorset, something we have been battling with for sometime."

DCC did not move gypsies and travellers on too quickly because that increased the number of unauthorised sites, Mr Evans said.

"It disturbs the travellers and interrupts education which is why we're inclined to leave them as long as possible."