THURROCK Council leader Rob Gledhill has reiterated that his authority will continue to take a resolute stance as it bids to stamp out illegal traveller incursions that have been a blight on the borough in recent years.

In the past couple of days enforcement officers from the council have reacted quickly to move traveller families and their cars and caravans on after they pitched up in the borough.

The first instance came at Grays beach last week then yesterday the same group tried to set up camp in South Ockendon but were also moved on by council officers, working with Essex Police.

Cllr Gledhill, 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."

Thurrock Council Environmental Enforcement and Essex Police officers spoke with the group soon after they arrived on a grass area outside the Scout Hall in Tamarisk Road, South Ockendon, warning them that they should leave.

Following that conversation the group had moved on within three hours of arriving and the site was completely cleared by around 6pm.

Thurrock Council has a borough-wide injunction which prevents named people from setting up an encampment around the borough without lawful permission. It also prevents 'persons unknown' from setting up an encampment on a number of named sites within the borough.

The injunction, which was granted in 2019, means anyone who sets up an illegal encampment faces the prospect of immediate arrest and gives the council the tools it needs to move on encampments within just a few hours.