York council court bid to move travellers off Chesney Fields

A court hearing is scheduled for 2pm on Tuesday, May 26 after the travellers failed to comply with a legal notice to leave Chesney Fields, in Foxwood Lane.

City of York Council officers served a Direction to Leave on the encampment which had a deadline to leave the Foxwood playing fields by 2pm on Friday, May 22.

The council declined to comment on a live enforcement case when approached by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

It comes after a council spokesperson said last week they would see to move the travellers on in line with normal practice following reports of their arrival on Tuesday, May 19.

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LDRS understands it follows travellers pitching up in the same area in April last year and July 2024.

The notice served by the council stated the failure to leave the site by Friday or returning within three months could lead to prosecution and a £1,000 fine if convicted.

Local ward councillors took to social media following the travellers’ arrival, with Westfield Liberal Democrats saying they feared it would put the playing fields out of action for some time.

They added a number of residents had reported the camp to Liberal Democrat ward councillor Andrew Waller.

Westfield Labour councillors said council officials would conduct the necessary checks and serve notice on the travellers to leave following their arrival last week.