TRAVELLERS have been served a notice to leave the Memorial Court car park in Northwich after pitching up on Wednesday night.

Cheshire Police were contacted at 9.39pm on September 30 about caravans and vehicles arriving at Memorial Court.

An encampment of five caravans, two motorhomes and associated vehicles pitched up on the land.

Following a site visit from a member of the Cheshire and Warrington Traveller Team, an order has now been served for the group to leave the site.

A spokesman at Cheshire West and Chester Council said: "An officer has visited the families today, October 1, to conduct an initial assessment and welfare checks. 

"The group have been served with a Section 77 Notice requiring them to leave by 6 pm tomorrow, October 2 2020."

Cllr Sam Naylor, Labour Cheshire West and Chester councillor for Witton, told the Guardian he had been informed of the encampment this morning.

The council has to work through the process of moving the caravans off the car park, which involves court orders.

CWAC does not have a transit site for travellers in place, meaning police do not have the power to move travellers off unauthorised encampments immediately.

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The council has wanted a transit site for a number of years, but plans for such a site in Ellesmere Port fell through in 2018.