Travellers have been reported at the old Mecca Bingo Hall car park.
It began with 2 caravans, a van and about 3 cars at around 7pm on Friday night (09/07) but as the evening continued more people were reported to arrive on site
Photo by Sandeep Jassal
People on Facebook have been asking if there was any sign of a forced entry and it has been confirmed the barriers were in tact Thursday, but the gate is now open.
Photo thanks to @contact400
The police were contacted late Friday afternoon and they said Officers would be notified and liaise with the Council. The Council have already been contacted and they have already been talking with Lidl.
When travellers were evicted from Hornchurch Country Park, it took over 1 week and legal action to remove them from the site. After their removal it was a major operation to clear up rubbish left by the fly tipping travellers.
Travellers will often intensional break into a site at the weekend when the Council enforcement team are unavailable
————————————Updated 11/07/2016————————————
We are receiving reports on streetlife of people being shouted at and rocks thrown when pedestrians try to cross the car park:
these people are VIOLENT! just tried using the cut through to the other road grey towers and just got rocks chucked at us the kids swearing! How do we get these people moved on
We have also been told that the travelers are using McDonald’s toilets and making a mess of these facilities:
i just come from Hornchurch McDonald’s travellers are using there toilets and wash room don’t think the restaurant are to impressed as they had to close yesterday and the state of the toilets this morning not like McDonalds toilets in a right mess have these pepole no respect .
There have also been reports of police on site
————————————Updated 12/07/2016————————————
Police have been spotted on site this afternoon
Hornchurch and Upminster community have added more information on their Facebook page:
According to sources the place has been ripped apart inside, water pipes burst, copper pipes gone, anything and everything gutted or demolished. Police have been to board up, but as this land is now owned by Lidl, the police and council have not much say in anything. An eviction notice has been handed over and flatly refused. Now awaiting on Lidl to get a court order, when they wish to serve this is the big question, it’s common knowledge they want to knock the building down, will they wait??
Sources have also told me they are using macdonalds for their daily washing routines and of criminal damage on property of local residents.
So keep your wits about you and inform police of any untoward behaviour!!
————————————Updated 14/07/2016————————————
Sandeep Jassal provided an update on the travellers eviction progress on the Upminster Facebook page
Quick update…. Looks like due process is being followed. Lidl posted a notice on the gates earlier in the week informing the travellers that they were trespassing and will be removed by court order if they remain… Looks like the police served the eviction orders yesterday, so expecting them to be forceably removed either today or tomorrow..
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