‘ISLANDERS’ SERVED WITH EVICTION ORDER
Council bailiffs have been drafted in to evict a group of travelling people living on a traffic island in King Street.
The people have been living on the island, which measures 12 feet by four, for the past three years. Last Monday, however, they were served with an eviction order from Froghill Magistrate’s Court and told they have to leave by the end of this week.
It is understood that should they fail to comply, the 160 or so ‘islanders’ will be scooped up by dump truck and taken to the municipal incinerator in Wildernesse Road, where they will burned.
Rob Crusoe, 41, a spokesman for the islanders, said: “I can’t see what all the fuss is about. We are not causing any harm by living on the island.
“It all boils down to the fact that there are one or two posh shops in King Street and people there think our presence lowers the tone. It’s a shame, because if they had been prepared to talk to us I’m sure we could have sorted something out.
Moira Snitteridge, owner of the Glitz-U-Like boutique, said: “My shop window looks directly onto the island. Now I’m as tolerant as the next person, but these travellers are a public nuisance. They litter the street with their broken cars and fridges, they hang their washing out across the road and they let their children run wild and cheek passers-by.
“And they breed like rabbits – believe me, I’ve watched them going at it from between the blinds.
“My business has most definitely suffered in the time they’ve been living there,” she added, “so good riddance to bad rubbish, that’s what I say.”
The Editor writes:
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