Travellers quit Sconce and Devon Park, Newark, under threat of forcible eviction

Travellers who were under the threat of being forcibly evicted from a Newark park left within 24 hours of arriving there.

Around 13 caravans arrived at Sconce and Devon Park, entering through the Farndon Road entrance opposite the Spring House at around lunchtime yesterday (Tuesday).

They are the same group who quit Lincoln Road Playing Fields after being served with an immediate eviction notice following a peaceful protest by local residents.

Police and officers from Newark and Sherwood District Council issued an immediate eviction notice on the travellers at Sconce and Devon Park yesterday afternoon and they were gone by 8am, leaving behind them scattered rubbish and smashed fences.

Police and the council, who own the park, were preparing to forcibly evict the travellers under Section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

Andy Statham, director of communities, at the district council, said: “Our grounds maintenance staff have been working all morning to clear away the debris and rubbish left by the travellers in order to ensure that the park is clean and safe for the public to use.

"The damaged ‘knee high’ post and rail fence will also be repaired sometime today.”