SUMMER holidays activities for children have had to be put on hold after a group of travellers moved on to land at a youth centre.

A group of at least five caravans pitched up on the grass area behind Highwoods Youth Centre, in Highwoods Approach, Colchester, late on Friday afternoon.

The youth centre, managed by Essex County Council, is used by various groups during the week and at weekends hosting a range of different activities.

Ward councillor Gerard Oxford said wife, Bev, had spent four hours liaising with the relevant authorities on Friday evening about the incursion.

“The police came out late Friday night and said they were not going to use their Section 61 powers to move them on even though several of the groups who use the youth centre are planning events on the grass area during the summer holidays,” he said.

“The police said as the events are not taking place at the moment they can’t do anything.

“The organisers will have to put the events on hold until they have gone, the clean up has taken place and the area is made safe to use again.

“One of the groups who uses the site works with youngsters who are in danger of being excluded from school.

“They were planning an event over the holidays teaching the kids different skills. It doesn’t seem right it will have to be put on hold.”

A group of travellers also pitched up on the same site in June last year but weren’t moved on immediately due to Covid guidelines.

Mr Oxford said he had contacted the leader of Essex County Council Kevin Bentley to urge County Hall to do more to protect the open space.

“I have asked them to consider erecting bollards to prevent access,” he said.

“Residents can’t understand why they are being allowed to stay.”

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Essex County Council will now have to apply for a court order to move the travellers.

Mr Oxford said: “I suspect they won’t be moved on until after the coming weekend as it will have to go through the courts.”

Essex Countywide Traveller Unit, a partnership involving County Hall, local councils and the police and fire services, said the situation would be resolved in the "quickest possible time frame".

He said: "The ECTU are aware of this encampment and the land area has been identified as Colchester Council.

"ECTU are managing it through the local authority powers available to us and in the quickest possible time frame to resolve.

“ECTU are also working closely with Essex police and the Rural Engagement Team on this matter.”