Council bosses say they will beef up security in areas which have been previously used by travellers. It comes as Essex Police ordered a group of travellers based at Rayleigh Leisure Centre to leave the area by 10am tomorrow morning (Friday, April 23). Around 30 caravans are understood to have pitched up outside the site in Priory Close - for the fifth time in the last year. Initially, half a dozen caravans arrived at the leisure centre on Friday evening before the number rapidly increased over the weekend. In an update this afternoon, Rochford Council said: Essex Police have confirmed a Section 61 notice has been served this morning on the Traveller group at Rayleigh Leisure Centre.
He said: “I’ve asked them to consider a wild meadow with mounds of earth around the side. They need to be at least one metre high. It needs to stop.” Roger Hirst, the police, fire, and crime commissioner, visited the site on Sunday, alongside leader of Rochford Council, Simon Wootton, and deputy leader Cheryl Roe. James Newport, councillor of the Downhall and Rawreth ward, said: “It’s really causing a lot of stress for people nearby. The situation needs to be sorted out. “It increased massively on Sunday.” Essex Police has been making “daily visits” to the site. Cheryl Roe, deputy leader of the council, said: “We are really disappointed by the situation.
Group of 30 travellers ordered to leave leisure centre A direction to leave notice has been handed to a group of travellers on land at Rayleigh leisure centre. It comes as 30 caravans pitched up outside the site in Priory Close - for the fifth time in the last year. Initially, half a dozen caravans arrived at the leisure centre on Friday evening before the number rapidly increased over the weekend. Rochford district council has been liaising with Essex Countywide Traveller Unit (ECTU) and the police in relation to the matter. The notice has now been served and the group have until midday tomorrow (April 21) to vacate the site.