MYSTERY surrounds the reason why a group of Travellers have been allowed to stay on an illegal encampment in Thurrock for more than a week – while other groups in the area have been moved on.

Thurrock Council reputedly has a 'no tolerance' policy for illegal encampments and its leader, Cllr Rob Gledhill, has frequently taken to social media to stress there is no place in the borough where illegal incursions are welcome – and the authority has successfully applied for a blanket injunction which allows them to work with police and move Travellers on.

Only last week Cllr Gledhill was at the forefront of council action as travelers were moved on and prevented from pitching camps in Grays and South Ockendon.

Cllr Gledhill stressed the council would remain vigilant and actively working to stop such encampments. After officers took action last week he said: "Once again our officers have acted quickly and decisively following reports that an unauthorised encampment was being set up.

"This is another example of how the council's robust approach to dealing with unauthorised encampments is benefiting residents by dealing with them immediately before they become a major issue for neighbours.

"We will continue to work proactively to ensure that we take action as soon as issues like this are reported."

And this week another group were swiftly moved on from a site in Chadwell St Mary.

However, a group have been encamped on land adjacent to Aveley by-pass since last Thursday (28 May), prompting local people in Aveley to ask why the Travellers have not been moved on.

The Travellers have been operating their businesses from the site, with movements of vans and machinery, including a digger on a trailer, on and off the site close to Aveley Football Club since they first arrived.

The authorities are aware of the site – and yesterday police officers were at the camp for much of the day – stopping traffic and appearing to control access to and from the encampment.

The Essex force has declined to explain what is happening in Aveley, but did say today (Thursday, 4 June): "Unauthorised encampments are a civil matter of trespass and therefore not a policing matter. We do however work alongside local partners and the landowner to monitor the situation."

Yesterday a spokesperson for Thurrock Council said: "Thurrock Council is aware of unauthorised encampments in Aveley and Grays. The council is working with partners in Essex Police and the Essex Countywide Travellers Unit within the Covid-19 regulations. The sites are being regularly monitored by partners and the council's enforcement team."

The travelers in Grays were the ones [L] https://thurrock.nub.news/n/call-to-move-travellers-on-after-they-pitch-up-in-chadwell [L+]encamped on River View in Chadwell St Mary and were off the site by last evening.

Thurrock Nub News asked Thurrock Council what it meant by 'working within the Covid-19 regulations', asking if that meant Travellers on site were infected with the virus, but today the council responded by saying: "To be clear you should not infer that from this response. That is not what we are saying."

We have asked for further clarification and an explanation why the encampent is being allowed to remain on site, but as yet have received no further response.

A concerned resident close to the site said: "Residents do not want them there, they should not be there and it seems very strange that they are allowed to stay in Aveley, while everywhere else they get moved on. Is Aveley just the borough's dumping ground for unwanted problems?

"This site is unsightly, there have been concerns about activities on the site in relation to nearby stables and it is clear from the coming and going of vehicles that they are operating their businesses from this site, which is just not acceptable. why should we have to put up with this when others don't?"

Belhus ward councillor Chris Baker says he has not been briefed on the situation and expressed his concern, adding (this afternoon): "They are still there so there so I'm asking questions why?"