A DOUBLE dose of legal action has been avoided after travellers left a community leisure site over the bank holiday weekend.

The group of travellers arrived on land in front of Walton's Columbine Centre and next to Walton-on-the-Naze Lifestyles overnight last Tuesday, bringing the total number of caravans to 15.

Nine caravans and a dozen vehicles had already turned up at Bath House Meadow, in Walton, that evening.

The Essex Countywide Traveller Unit (ECTU) served a Direction to Leave on the original group which gave them 24-hours to move off the Tendring Council-owned site.

But by mid-afternoon on Easter Monday - before a notice could be served on the second group - all the vehicles had vacated.Gazette:
Nigel Brown, communications manager at Tendring Council, said the individuals showered at the facility and paid for a swimming session.

Although there were no issues over the weekend, he added that the council would have preferred not to have had to monitor the "unauthorised encampment".

It was believed the initial group would stay only for a day before travelling to the Netherlands on ferry.

He said: “It was a fairly busy weekend all round and there were plenty of visitors in Walton.

“However, this land was not required for car parking and the travellers kept the site tidy and piled all their rubbish sacks in one area so they could be easily collected and disposed of. They also got rid of some of their rubbish themselves.

“We are pleased the travellers have moved on before it was necessary for the ECTU to take action through the courts.”