AN unauthorised encampment of travellers have been threatened with court action after they pitched-up in a Colchester field before relocating to a beauty spot.  

The Essex Countywide Traveller Unit was sent to Whitmore Drive, in Mile End, on Wednesday morning following reports of several caravans parked in an area near to Kingswood Heath.

Police were made aware of the travellers, as were housing firms Taylor Wimpey, Bloor Homes, and Bellway, given the proximity of the encampment to their estates.

After being told to move on, the travellers eventually upped sticks, only to find a new base in High Woods Country Park a short while later, Colchester Council bosses say.

They have now been threatened with legal action if they do not move on.

A spokesman for Colchester Council said: “We were notified this morning of an unauthorised encampment in the car park at Whitmore Drive.

“The Essex Countywide Traveller Unit (ECTU) were informed and the encampment later relocated to the Turner Road car park at High Woods Country Park.

“ECTU officers visited the site today to conduct welfare checks and assess the situation and have begun the procedure for removing them from the site.

“We encourage the travellers to cooperate and vacate the car park voluntarily.

"Should they choose not to leave, we will seek a court order for their removal. This legal process typically takes 7-10 days.”

Martin Goss, Liberal Democrat's parliamentary candidate for Colchester and Mile End councillor, is not happy with the encampment. 

He said: “As much as I understand rocking up on open spaces and pitching caravans is normality for the traveling community, to many this is alien, especially near a school which simply isn’t appropriate for numerous reasons.

“This does nothing to ingratiate our unwanted guests to the local community.”

The latest encampment in Colchester comes after more than a dozen caravans set up in Colchester’s Britannia Car Park back in January.

The Essex Countywide Travellers Unit (ECTU) has responsibility for unauthorised encampments within Colchester.

The ECTU can be contacted through Essex County Council's contact centre on 03457 430 430 Monday to Friday from 8.30am - 6pm or out of hours on 03330321110.