
Yesterday residents on Westminster Drive woke up to find that travellers had moved into the empty plot on the Bowes Road known as Site 6. There are about 10 caravans in total. and a resident of Westminster Drive reports “Already the fencing to the rear of the plot, backing our gardens has been broken away, we are feeling very vulnerable.” An official at the site who spoke to a member of BHORA this morning, advised that the travellers have come from their last stop at a sports ground in Edmonton, and that it could take a month to remove the travellers following the proper legal procedures.
Notting Hill Housing Trust provided the following statements regarding the steps they are taking to tackle the issue.
What action is Notting Hill Housing Trust taking to remove the travellers?
“Sergeant Lorna Taylor, Bowes Police organised for her team to visit the site today. The team have had a discussion with the occupants and will be monitoring the situation. We have instructed our solicitor to issue a claim for possession via the High Court. We hope to then obtain a court hearing date within the next 2 weeks.”
Notting Hill Housing Trust provided the following statements regarding the steps they are taking to tackle the issue.
What action is Notting Hill Housing Trust taking to remove the travellers?
“Sergeant Lorna Taylor, Bowes Police organised for her team to visit the site today. The team have had a discussion with the occupants and will be monitoring the situation. We have instructed our solicitor to issue a claim for possession via the High Court. We hope to then obtain a court hearing date within the next 2 weeks.”

When does Notting Hill Housing Trust expect the travellers to be removed from the site?
“Assuming we successfully obtain possession of the site through the High Court we can then organise for a team of commercial bailiffs to carry out an eviction and clearance of the site. Unfortunately there are no fast track options on this. We cannot simply evict them without going through this process. At this stage we anticipate possession of the site by the end of October.”
When will NHHT repair broken fences of those backing on to site 6?
“As the site is now occupied by travellers it is not advisable to send any personnel onto the site other than those instructed by the solicitor to serve our legal notices. Once we obtain possession of the site we will be assessing the boundaries to ensure security.”
How NHHT plan to protect Westminster Drive gardens.
“We have 2 smaller vacant sites at the entrance of Broomfield Road. These sites are locked however we have organised on-going 24 hour security for these sites today.
Unfortunately we have been advised it is not always a quick process to remove travellers from private land however I would like to assure you that we will do everything possible to ensure the occupants are evicted as soon as possible.
I will be sending out an update notification leaflet to the residents of Westminster Drive and our residents on Bowes Road who are directly affected by this however if any residents feel it necessary they should contact the police in the usual way.”
(Danielle Lennon NHHT)
“Assuming we successfully obtain possession of the site through the High Court we can then organise for a team of commercial bailiffs to carry out an eviction and clearance of the site. Unfortunately there are no fast track options on this. We cannot simply evict them without going through this process. At this stage we anticipate possession of the site by the end of October.”
When will NHHT repair broken fences of those backing on to site 6?
“As the site is now occupied by travellers it is not advisable to send any personnel onto the site other than those instructed by the solicitor to serve our legal notices. Once we obtain possession of the site we will be assessing the boundaries to ensure security.”
How NHHT plan to protect Westminster Drive gardens.
“We have 2 smaller vacant sites at the entrance of Broomfield Road. These sites are locked however we have organised on-going 24 hour security for these sites today.
Unfortunately we have been advised it is not always a quick process to remove travellers from private land however I would like to assure you that we will do everything possible to ensure the occupants are evicted as soon as possible.
I will be sending out an update notification leaflet to the residents of Westminster Drive and our residents on Bowes Road who are directly affected by this however if any residents feel it necessary they should contact the police in the usual way.”
(Danielle Lennon NHHT)