Unauthorised Encampment swiftly cleared from Golf Course car parks

Three Rivers council officers acted swiftly after an unauthorised encampment took over the car parks at Rickmansworth Golf Course.

A core of 12 caravans, with associated cars and vans, arrived on the evening of 12 March on the council-owned land.

The Council followed legal procedures and obtained a court order for the travellers to leave the land on 16 March. With the exception of an abandoned van and an abandoned caravan, both car parks were vacated later that day, with the clear-up operation being undertaken on 17 March. The abandoned vehicles have since been removed.

Sara Bedford, Leader of the council, said: “I would like to thank Council Officers for their usual quick action. Unfortunately in the time, it takes for the legal procedures to be enacted and a court order to be obtained, significant fly tipping has taken place and damaged caused. There has to be a better way of dealing with such encampments in the future.”