Forum Topic

North Acton playing fields hijaaked by travellers

You'll be delighted to know travellers with caravans invaded North Acton playing fields at just before 7pm tonight.They arrived in convoy and entered via the gate cornering Noel Rd and Westfields Rd. A number of locals I spoke with noted that up until quite recently this entrance had a bollard which would have prevented vehicles entering.Police were called by numerous neighbours and they are currently in attendance. It seems they have no powers to remove or arrest the offenders any time soon.I understand legal options for the council are limited and take time to process through the procedures.  However, this is becoming quite a regular occurrence throughout the borough and I wonder whether bylaws could be passed that at least make these recurring crimes so expensive they will take them elsewhere.For instance, each and every vehicle there must be a parking violation at the very least. No reason why they can't be fined every hour 24x7? Also being in the park after hours is trespass?

Ron Thorp ● 3218d54 Comments

FYI, the park gates are open until midnight. Ealing Council used to lock it up with chains around 10pm during summer months.

Naweed Shams ● 3195d

They appear to have moved back to the fields behind Gurnell swimming pool.There were about 10 motor homes and caravans this morning, assuming it is the same group moving from park to park.

Kim Rugg ● 3197d

Also interesting to see who ran LBE in 2008 and carried out the survey, deciding there were no requirements for transit sites in the borough and therefore did not provide any.

Libby Kemp ● 3198d

For those who have not seen the Springfield Garden post.The Ealing provision for Gipsy and Traveller sites is in the Old Oak and Park Royal development area (OPDC). There is one public site with 24 pitches for permanent caravans, no private sites with permanent planning permission, no sites with temporary planning permission.  There are no sites for transit provision anywhere in Ealing, Brent or Hammersmith and Fulham or Kensington and Chelsea, which is probably how these families would be classified as they stay for a week or so and then move on. LBE carried out a statutory survey in 2008 and decided there was no requirement for transit sites in the borough and thereby did not have to provide one.  Prior to 1979 all local authorities had to by law provide transit sites. Oxfordshire County Council Manage the three permanent sites in West London, Brent has 34 pitches and Kensington and Chelsea 19.  OPDC carried out a “Gypsy and Travellers Accommodation Needs Assessment (GTANA)” in 2016 a copy of the draft report is available:https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2016_01_28_opdc_gtaa_draft_report_new_cover.pdf

Libby Kemp ● 3199d

Thanks for your input, Joseph Jones. I didn't know that. Seems like resources are being utilised in Hyde Park to attract international tourism with endless pockets. Parks outside Central London has to suffer and make do without the extra care and attention. It's really unfair.

Naweed Shams ● 3200d

UPDATE!The travellers are now all in Springfield Gardens, Horn Lane!This is getting beyond a joke!

Jean F Fernandez ● 3202d

Councils largely no longer directly employ civil enforcement officers (formerly known as parking attendents) Naweed, they subcontract to private firms. Here in Ealing it's a firm called NSL Ltd that employs civil enforcement officers. NSL is part of the Marston Holdings group, the UK's largest judicial services provider.Our parks, all over the UK, are suffering from a lack of care and funding for upkeep and staff. However, do not be too quick to solely blame local authorities for this. Ultimately this is the result of years of policy-making at a national level (privatization of services + cutting funding to local authorities and government departments) which result in cuts that affect the general populace the worst, along with a massive transference of wealth from the public (our taxes & our property) to the private sector.Sorry for getting political, but it's time people started waking up to what has happened to the UK since 1979.

Joseph Jones ● 3204d

Thanks Kim, I didn't know about the park rangers.If Ealing Council can afford hundreds if not thousands of street parking wardens, they can stretch to a few park wardens to be visible at all times, they can even dish out fines for chewing gum spitters, dog poop, laughing gas teens etc.It's going to happen one day, said no one ever.

Naweed Shams ● 3204d

If you keep the number for the park Rangers in your phone (It should be on the board at the entrance of the park) you can call them to report unsociable behaviour. It would, of course, be nice to have a permanent presence but I am not holding my breath.

Kim Rugg ● 3205d

Doesn't North Acton close late in the summer? I went past earlier but forgot to check the times. I always see young men smoking something suspicious in the middle of the park under the trees, just like high school hiding from teachers. We should have a park warden in every park, visible at all times. Similar to a life guard at the beach. Few years ago when I visited Spain and Italy, the parks were always visible with police cars driving slowly or wardens on golf carts. The teenagers feared them, and rightly so!

Naweed Shams ● 3206d

All about cut backs, but it actually cost more in the long run.We are lucky to have so many nice parks in the Ealing Borough but it appears they are now just a free for all.

Linda Irving ● 3207d

Seems to me that there is no idea now that parks close at a certain time of night.  This evening there were still people in Acton Park at 2145

Nina Battleday ● 3207d

I noticed the bollard over the weekend, however when I went past the park at midnight on Saturday the park gates at every entrance was wide open...this is just inviting anti social behaviour.

Linda Irving ● 3207d

Ealing Council has now installed a metal bollard that can be moved up and down (similar to outside downing street) inside the entrance from Westfields Road / Noel Road. I'm wondering why not the other entrance of Northfields Road / Eastfields Road. There's nothing to stop anyone driving in.

Naweed Shams ● 3207d

Thats good news and hope there was no rubbish left.

Janice Evans ● 3212d

Lets hope Ealing council take steps urgently now to prevent them from coming back into our park, or basically anywhere in Ealing.

Linda Irving ● 3212d

It would appear the caravans have moved on. They are now on the fields behind the car park at Gurnel swimming pool.

Kim Rugg ● 3212d

What legal steps are London Borough of Ealing taking to protect the legitimate rights of the general population in the future? Is it really cheaper to take each individual case to court rather than have enforceable local bye-laws and associated penalties already in place? Other boroughs do not appear to have so many problems.

Christopher Bell ● 3213d

I was informed this morning that at least 4 caravans went down Allan Way at 10.30 last night towards the A40.SO lets hope that is the start of them moving on !!!

Linda Irving ● 3213d

Shocked - I am also.  It does seem totally unbelievable I was hesitant to post the comment but it has come from a reliable source.Apparently North Acton Playing fields was opened to prevent them going on Ealing commonWe continue to pay our Council tax for it to be unnecessarily used to clear up the continuous mess that is left behind.  Along with the police presence that has been required for several incidents.We have also seen several cars using the park as a rally, which will of caused more damage to the grass areas of our well kept park.Along with the recent rain, it could well turn into a bog now

Linda Irving ● 3213d

So who is going to clear up the mess left behind when these travellers move on?

Jean F Fernandez ● 3213d

Not sure if my recent response went through as not showing.I will repost later if it does not appear

Linda Irving ● 3213d

I'm shocked if they have given permission.

Janice Evans ● 3213d

It appears that these travellers were given permission to use the park after being moved on from elsewhere hence the bollard was removed,  this is ludicrous.So we don't get any warning or consultation, prevented from using the park basically due to danger with vehicles going across the grass and all very near to the children's play area and have to pay for the clear up!!!Sounds about right with the Ealing Council

Linda Irving ● 3214d

Be wary of mobile numbers offering rubbish removal stuck under car windscreen wipers. It isn't only the unlicensed waste carrier who is liable to be fined but the person who hands over their waste to an unlicensed waste carrier.  You can check registration at https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers

Philippa Bond ● 3214d

Ha, possibly.

Janice Evans ● 3214d

And sell them?

Kim Rugg ● 3214d

They sometimes cut through the hinges and remove the gates.

Janice Evans ● 3215d

There are enough local retailers willing to sell bolt cutters capable of quietly removing the kinds of locks fitted by councils, while the fence itself is old and may not be very strong.Ealing might be able to create local bye-laws so it is not such an obvious soft touch, but I seem to remember a previous occasion when the DVLA set a trap to catch untaxed or unroadworthy vehicles as they were evicted, and the travellers insisted on leaving by a different route.

Christopher Bell ● 3215d

No one will go near them Tania.

Janice Evans ● 3215d

Someone mention they heard machinery so probably saw through the lock.

Janice Evans ● 3215d

How's your brother Jack, Paul?

Keith Iddon ● 3215d

Does anyone know if they deliberately damaged the gates to get in or if they were left unlocked?  There must be some form of effective barrier that can be installed in parks which can only be unlocked by authorised personnel.

Paul Mihoff ● 3215d

Difficult situation, maybe leave a large vehicle across the gates then, have to think of other ways to protect other open spaces.

Janice Evans ● 3215d

The gates are used daily by service vehicles for such things as rubbish collection, so no huge concrete barriers are possible. If local people heard noises but did not check and report there is not much that can be done without legal changes. They have rights, but so do other people.

Christopher Bell ● 3215d

As they are in the area wouldn't you think these places would be made much more secure, after all they know it will take time to move them on and all could have been avoided.

Janice Evans ● 3215d

Travellers used to provide seasonal labour, but what do they do now? I suspect that they would be a reliability in many jobs they might have done in the past, even digging a hole in the road requires care to avoid causing damage.

Christopher Bell ● 3216d

They appear to think that Ealing is an easy touch, and so will keep returning.

Christopher Bell ● 3216d

So why was it not reported at the time?

Christopher Bell ● 3216d

There is a permanent site in Bashley Road, Park Royal. Police are reputed to refuse to enter unless in overwhelming force, and armed, under a court order. A few years ago a police car was dismantled while they investigated a relatively minor crime.

Christopher Bell ● 3216d

Ron,Welcome to the real World?regards John.

Dr John Stolworthy D.Sc ● 3217d

Ron, they use false everything, car registrations, addresses, i'ds of law abiding citizens who then recieve all these fines etc.

Janice Evans ● 3217d

They copy registration numbers from the vehicles of law abiding citizens and it will be those innocent victims who recieve the fines.

Janice Evans ● 3217d

This evening, there are more of them. They have annexed off an even larger plot for themselves.Meanwhile children watched by anxious parents are keeping to the other side of the park as the VIPs motor around the field unchallenged.Whilst I understand it takes time to get a Court Order, I do not accept the following measures not being applied...No parking infringements issuedNo litter infringements issued.No Stop & Search doneNo Dangerous Driving arrestsNo fires investigated or finedNo security on the open park entrance gateNo noise disturbances addressedNo ASBO actionThe fact they are of no fixed abode must not be allowed to give them a free pass to commit crime and intimidate law abiding residents. I know the police have a lot of better things to do but there are options to make a point about law and order. Likewise, Ealing Council can and MUST fine them at every opportunity for every infringement. They are having a merry old time not being worried by anyone. No wonder there's more arriving. Who said crime doesn't pay?   

Ron Thorp ● 3217d

Explains why I heard sounds of an electric saw and metal banging late yesterday evening. Not only do they leave hoards of rubbish, they roam around late at night and attempt to steal from cars left unlocked and properties with windows open during hot summer evenings. Also when you drive past them, they gather in groups and walk on the road surrounding your car to intimidate you. Definitely not a nice bunch. Beware!

Naweed Shams ● 3217d

Em... Permanent sites cost money and would they want to pay or even stay, they like to remain untraceable and on the move, doubt the drivers licences anyway.

Janice Evans ● 3217d

Have you been smoking crack Dr John?RegardsRichard

Richard Foster ● 3218d

Not really. Their vehicles can be seized if they fail to pay. Also, if they get too many driving penalty points they will be driving without a licence and then can be jailed if caught driving without a licence. It's an entirely unsatisfactory situation where a public park is an unsafe environment due to criminal behaviour.

Ron Thorp ● 3218d

If you stop in a yellow box junction for more than 5 seconds then you get fined every time. Hijaak a public park whilst children are running around trying not to get splattered by vehicles towing caravans should be an offence that merits a default custodial sentence. At the very least an 11 point fine as provisioned here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/annex-5-penalties#penaltytableThey're career criminals and should be treated as such.Regards,- Ron

Ron Thorp ● 3218d

There is no point fining or sending bailiffs after travellers because they won't pay and no bailiff is going to be able to change that.

Alex Powrie ● 3218d

Hi Ron,First you need a court order to remove the travellers,as they have no fixed address,were do you send any summoms to?Dangerous driving does not come into it,and it has to be proved,its about time authorties gave permanent sites to travellers they are in fact part of our community and need to be treated as such they are human after all.regards John.

Dr John Stolworthy D.Sc ● 3218d

I don't understand why the council can't just get some bailiffs to tow their vehicles away.

Tania Bapuji ● 3218d

It seems the gate was left wide open last night and now more have arrived. They have cornered a whole section of the park to themselves.Surely driving a vehicle amongst children playing in a public park should attract charges of dangerous driving? Fines sent to every registered keeper of the vehicles would be a good start.

Ron Thorp ● 3218d

This is becoming ridiculous! A merry-go-round, they turn up on Ealing Common, Ealing Council have to go to court to evict them which costs money.They finally move on to another local site and once again the council has to apply to the court to evict them!  Surely to goodness some way must be found to STOP these people making a laughing stock of the council and the law?The additional problem is the mess they leave behind which again costs the council money to clean up afterwards.

Jean F Fernandez ● 3218d