Chiswick Traveller Incursions 'Just The Beginning'

Large group move from Chiswick Back Common to Dukes Meadows

Concern has been raised that a spate of traveller encampments appearing in the Chiswick area is just start of a trend and that such incursions are set to become a regular feature of local life.

A group of about 10 vehicles including motor homes and caravans has moved to Dukes Meadows this Friday (24 May) having appeared on Chiswick Back Common on Thursday evening.

They have camped on a patch of land across the road from the Thames Tradesmen's rowing club on Dan Mason Drive. It is believed that the group had previously camped in Gunnersbury Park when they were told to move on.

The police and Hounslow Enforcement officers are monitoring the situation. Given that it is a Bank Holiday weekend, it is possible that they may not be able to enforce a court order until normal working hours resume. We asked Hounslow Council for comment and will report back on any response.

Recently, concern has been raised about an increase in traveller incursions into open spaces in the Chiswick area after Ealing Council had obtained a borough wide injunction against camps. The injunction forbids caravans, mobile homes, vans and lorries from coming onto public land for the purpose of occupying it or depositing waste.

Ealing Borough has one of the largest traveller communities in London with estimates of up to 2,000 at certain times of the year. One of the largest official traveller sites is in Park Royal and the community has a strong historic association with the area as the A40 is the route taken from Fishguard to London with many having arrived in the past from the Irish port of Rosslare. The close links of the community with the area is evident in the naming of the junction of the A40 and Horn Lane as Gypsy Corner.

The injunction was taken out by Ealing Council after an increased traveller activity in the borough over several years including on Ealing Common. It allows them to accelerate the process of removing a group from a site and to take direct punitive action against anyone ignoring the order. One local councillor told us that it was inevitable that Chiswick would see a wave of encampments as a result describing the recent incursions as 'just the beginning'. The travellers will want to stay close to the Ealing borough area so will gravitate towards locations close by where the junction doesn't apply. There have been other encampments just across the borough border this week including one at Carville Hall Park in Brentford.

Travellers on Chiswick Back Common. Picture: @ YoubMhamed

Another source told ChiswickW4.com that Hounslow Council is also seriously considering seeking a similar injunction, in a bid to prevent displacement by traveller encampments coming into the borough.

A spokesperson for Hounslow Council said earlier, "We are aware of Ealing council's introduction of an injunction against travellers.

"While we continue to explore our options with regard to unlawful occupation of public land by any party, we have yet to decide what further measures we may take to discourage future illegal trespass."

A few weeks ago, Lendlease had to take action to step up security on one of its sites, following the recent incursion of several caravans into a vacant site behind Sainsbury's. After the travellers left, the company had to get rid of mounds of rubbish and building waste which was left behind.

In previous years there have been travellers staying or short periods of time at Dukes Meadows, But the High Court injunctions sought by the Councils only relate to public land. In theory this could expose private landowners to greater risk of incursions. Such sites in the Chiswick area include the B&Q site, the Chiswick Curve site, and others in the Gunnersbury area.

May 26, 2019