Travellers Leave Mounds of Trash in Car Park

Group that occupied site by Sainsbury's have moved on

Site filled with building waste during occupation. Picture: @quickposting1

The group of travellers that occupied a disused car park by the Sainsbury’s store in Chiswick have now moved on.

A large amount of building waste and other trash has been deposited at the site which is owned by property developer Lend Lease. The encampment departed on Easter Sunday after a ‘Section 61’ order was obtained by the police which required them to vacate the site.

The occupation of the car park has raised concern about the number of vacant sites in the centre of Chiswick particularly those owned by Lend Lease which has abandoned a major development project at Empire House.

Lend Lease previously claimed to have 24 hour security at the site which is surrounded by a high white fence. We asked Lend Lease how it was possible for the travellers to take over the site? They replied: "On Thursday (18 April) trespassers broke into the Chiswick site. They threatened the security personnel on site and were unable to be moved by police until Sunday (21 April). "

We asked: "Will the events change Lendlease’s policy of leaving this and other sites across Chiswick that they own unoccupied?" They replied: "At Lendlease the safety of our people and the communities in which we work is our number one priority. Our site at Chiswick has 24-hour security protection and we are looking to enhance the physical security measures to help prevent trespassers entering the site."

Some residents have suggested that the sites be given over to community use until building work is ready to begin to avoid them being taken over by squatters and travellers.

Earlier fears that the holiday period would extend the time which the encampment would occupy the site proved unfounded. The police told ChiswickW4.com on Saturday evening lasst week that they were confident the group would be moved out by the following afternoon.

A notice had been placed on the fence by the travellers outlining their legal argument for occupying the site. It states 'it is our home and we intend to stay here'.

The notice quotes the Criminal Law Act of 1997 saying that violence cannot be used to remove them and that they are not trespassers and therefore cannot be removed under common law powers.

It concludes by saying, “If you want to get us out you will have to issue a claim for possession in the County Court or in the High Court.”

It is understood that as the encampment was on private land the Council will not incur any cost in relation to clearing it up.

Group was encamped in car park surrounded by white fence

April 28, 2019