A CONSERVATIVE MP told the Commons he is “sick to death of travellers arriving” in Southend.
Sir David Amess, MP for Southend West, urged the Government to stop travellers and “their antisocial behaviour” during an adjournment debate before MPs broke up for the summer.
The group, who had previously pitched up at Trinity Football Club, on Eastern Avenue, have been given until noon today to vacate the land.
The MP said: “I am sick to death of travellers arriving.”
He thanked Rayleigh MP Mark Francois for his efforts in campaigning for tougher laws on traveller encampments by making deliberate trespass a criminal offence.
The group had previously been ordered to move on from Trinity Football Club following a court hearing on July 16.
Samantha Morris, 63, a resident of Sherbourne Gardens, said: “I am so pleased the police and council have dealt with this so quickly as I was beginning to worry how much more I could take.
“They have only been here a day and the noise is unbearable. It’s mainly the children - I know it’s not their fault as they are only playing but when it’s all day and night it’s just too much.
“I feel too intimidated to even go over to my allotment at the end of the road.
“They just can’t keep doing this - setting up home on land that isn’t theirs.”
A spokesman for Essex Police, said: “We were called to reports of an unauthorised traveller encampment at Southend Rugby Club in Sumpters Way, Southend at 3.40pm on Wednesday July 22.
“A Section 61 notice has been issued ordering the encampment to move off the site by midday.”
A Section 61 order gives a police the “power to remove trespassers” if there is reason to believes that they are trespassing on land with the intention of residing there for any period.
On Friday, it was confirmed the group had left the sites.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article