Council dealing with traveller encampment in Aberford Park

Police have also been made aware of the dozen or so caravans which arrived at Aberford Park yesterday afternoon (Tuesday).

A large number of vehicles have been parked on grass by the skatepark and officers from both Hertfordshire Constabulary and Hertsmere Borough Council were seen at the park.

The council has confirmed it has started legal action to move the travellers on but this process could take a few days.

Police officers in Aberford Park on Tuesday afternoon. Credit: Councillor Glenn Briski

The council did have a borough-wide injunction on traveller encampments at more than 100 sites across Hertsmere, including Aberford Park, which enabled officers to move travellers on without having to go through the courts.

However, a council spokesperson has said this three-year injunction, which was introduced in 2019, is not currently in place after legal action was brought against the injunction.

A spokesperson said this morning: "We are aware of the large and unauthorised traveller encampment in Aberford Park in Borehamwood and are responding promptly and robustly, and obviously in line with legislation.

"Environmental health colleagues attended yesterday afternoon (Tuesday April 20) and are visiting again this morning to carry out welfare checks and issue notices of direction requiring the group to leave the site, which will be followed up through the courts if necessary. We are in liaison with Hertfordshire Constabulary regarding this matter.

"Along with a number of other local authorities, we recently applied to have our blanket injunction withdrawn after it was the subject of legal challenge by traveller communities."

The injunction was initially introduced by the council after several traveller encampments in Hertsmere in 2018. Forty thousand pounds was also spent putting posts in to stop vehicles getting into Ripon Park.

There are at least a dozen caravans in the park. Credit: Councillor Michelle Vince

The caravans seen from Brook Road

Meanwhile Hertsmere Police wrote on its Facebook page yesterday: "We are aware of an unauthorised encampment in Aberford Park, Aberford Road, #Borehamwood.

"Officers have attended the area and are supporting the landowners, Hertsmere Borough Council, who are the lead agency as it is a civil matter.

"We are continuing to monitor the situation as part of our proactive patrols to provide community reassurance and prevent any breaches of the peace."

Vehicles parked in Aberford Park in Borehamwood

Local councillors were also at the scene yesterday.

Borehamwood Brookmeadow Conservative councillor Glenn Briski posted a video on Tuesday afternoon, in which he said council officers were "urgently dealing" with the situation and that he would be seeking "assurances from police that more travellers will not be able to enter the park".

Cowley Hill's Michelle Vince also visited the park.

The Labour councillor posted on her Facebook page: "After being called by many residents over the last hour, I went to visit the site of a travelling presence at Aberford Park. Along with another resident, we managed to block the road in to the park but not before at least 20 caravans had arrived."

She added: "Of course everyone needs a home but our parks and open spaces are not the place and local families need to be able to use them without vehicles driving around."