(Image: CLLR PETER GROGAN)
Officers are set to move in on a traveller encampment after caravans and campervans were pitched up on a North East showground.
A small number of caravans, campervans, vans and a car were parked on Kirkleatham Showground in Redcar after the encampment was discovered this morning (Tuesday, August 11).
It is the second traveller encampment to appear in Redcar this week.
Another site was set up on Redcar Athletic's football pitches, forcing all games to be cancelled.
Redcar and Cleveland Council has confirmed an officer will visit the site to begin the process of evicting the occupants.
A council spokesperson said: "An officer will be visiting the site to begin the process to evict, as the occupants are on land deemed to be unacceptable under the terms of our Unauthorised Encampment Procedure.
"The council is working closely with its legal team to serve the necessary notices to move the occupants on as soon as possible."
Cleveland Police said officers are aware of the encampment and are liaising with the council.
A spokesperson said: "Officers are aware of an encampment on Kirkleatham Showground in Redcar and are liaising with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council."
Cllr Alec Brown, Leader of the Council, said: “We’ve received a number of calls from the public about this and I’d like to assure them, and the whole community, that we are doing everything we can to resolve this situation as well as the situation at Redcar Athletic as soon as possible.
"I would urge residents to remain vigilant and report any criminal or dangerous behaviour to the police.”
READ MORE:
- Travellers set up camp on showground as councillor brands it 'unacceptable'
- Council 'doing everything it can' to evict travellers from North East football pitch
- Travellers set up camp on football pitch as 'all games cancelled'
Kirkleatham councillor Peter Grogan said the latest encampment was "unfortunate and unacceptable".
He said: "After being alerted by a resident this morning that the traveller encampment has made its way onto the Kirkleatham Showground, it is obviously unfortunate and unacceptable. This is the second site set up in Redcar this weekend.
"The local authority has been contacted and the correct procedures and guidelines through legal routes have been started at the cost of the taxpayer."