Reading town centre car park taken over by illegal travellers encampment
Hills Meadow car park near the station has been reduced to a handful of spaces by the traveller occupation
One of Reading's town centre car parks has been occupied by travellers.
Reading Borough Council - which runs the car park at Hills Meadow - say they're starting eviction proceedings.
The council says locks on barriers to the car park were forcibly cut and the Police have been informed.
A spokesperson said:
“We are lodging the necessary paperwork with our legal team today and we will then await a date from the courts in order to progress with the eviction.
Any reports of criminal activity or ASB should be directed to the Police on 101. More information on the process followed for evicting illegal encampments can be found at https://www.reading.gov.uk/environment/unauthorised-encampments
“We have implemented a number of measures at this site, including strengthening the barriers, covering the barriers in traceable ‘smart’ water and CCTV. In this instance the locks were forcibly cut, which has been reported to the police. We will continue to endeavour to prevent access as far as possible and to look into new methods of preventing incursions of this kind.”
The council didn't offer an apology for the inconvenience being caused to local people.
This latest illegal encampment is one of several Reading Borough Council has had to deal over the past 12 months or so.