A group of travellers have been served legal notice by Ealing Council to move on after illegally setting up camp on Ealing Common on Sunday (July 23).
After several caravans moved onto the public park at around 2.30pm, irate residents quickly directed their anger towards the council over the encampment.
Reem Sarraf, of Ealing Common, called the group an “absolute nuisance” and said more needed to be done to stop travellers targeting the area.
“This is probably their sixth visit this year, and when the council takes action they are back after a few months," she said.
“[Last time], they burned a pile of rubbish when the council asked them to dispose of the waste and they damaged a bench.
“More needs to be done to stop them repeatedly returning – an option is to put bollards up, or put a law in place where it is illegal to camp in public parks."
A spokesman from Ealing Council, as well as the Met Police , took to Twitter to reassure residents checks have been made and notices were being served.
"Ealing Common residents: we have attended the traveler encampment on Ealing Common and will liaise with Ealing Council. Please bear with us," said Northfields MPS.
A council spokesman added: “As soon as we were aware that there was an illegal encampment at Ealing Common, we took immediate action alongside the police and our contractors, Park Guard, and visited the site to commence the checks and assessments that we are legally obliged to carry out.
“These are now complete, and the group has been served with a legal notice to quit the Common.
“Ealing Common is well used and loved by local residents and is not suitable for an encampment of this type.
"We have an official site in the borough specifically for travellers.”
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