WE ARE sure when Your Harlow started on July 1st, 2013 that we started with travellers on Second Avenue. Well sure enough, we will close our first year with the news that travellers have returned to Second Avenue.

The whole year has been punctuated with reports of travellers encamped illegally.

Harlow Council has been working to resolve the ongoing situation with illegal traveller encampments in the town.

There is currently an encampment on Tithelands playing field in Katherines, which is land owned by Harlow Council. The encampment has been there since 16 June 2014. The Council is following the legal process as the travellers are refusing to move. The Council has applied to the County Court for a hearing and this will now take place on Friday 4 July 2014.

This morning there is a separate illegal encampment on the Helipad off Second Avenue. The Council is working with the Police and the travellers have been asked to leave as the Council begins the legal process for this encampment.

Councillor Emma Toal, Portfolio Holder for Youth & Community, said: “Residents of Harlow are frustrated by the ongoing illegal encampments and we as the Council echo this feeling; there is unfortunately a legal process to follow and we are doing everything we can to bring this ongoing situation to a resolution as quickly as is legally possible.

“We applied for a hearing at the County Court on 17 June to issue proceedings against the encampment on Tithelands playing field and 4 July is the earliest possible date we could obtain.

“The priority is to find a long-term solution to this problem rather than just allowing the travellers to move from site to site and we are currently working with Essex County Council, the Police and legal experts to solve this.”