THE cost of removing an unauthorised ‘travellers’ site in Wellington was nearly £9,000, town councillors have been told.

The council commissioned specialist bailiffs from Bristol after about a dozen ‘traveller’ families pitched up on a green between Oakfield Park and Webbers Close, off Hoyles Road.

The caravans and vehicles appeared on the site after protective bollards had been cut through and disappeared.

Council chief executive Dave Farrow said the total cost of the bailiff firm GRC Group and the use of temporary boulders to secure the area was £8,615 plus VAT, on top of which there was the cost of staff clearing up the site.

He said the incident began on the Sunday evening when police were alerted to a number of vehicles which had gained access to the five-acre field.

GRC bailiffs were hired the same evening and on Monday they served eviction notices requiring the ‘travellers’ to leave by 5 pm.

However, a substantial number of vehicles remained by the evening and so common law eviction proceedings were started.

More caravans then arrived overnight and there were 13 on site by Tuesday morning.

Mr Farrow said the situation deteriorated on Tuesday evening as some caravans returned and GRC staff were threatened with violence by people who appeared to be intoxicated.

On Wednesday morning an ‘incident’ occurred with one of the GRC staff which led to a 999 call and police attending.

The ‘travellers’ then departed by shortly after 12 noon, with only some mess and minor damage left behind.

Mr Farrow said: “While the council can be pleased this incident was resolved relatively quickly, it should not assume the same outcome would necessarily be achieved in the event of any future encampment.”

He said a soil bund in Oakfield Park and a bollard to narrow the entrance from Webbers Close had since been installed.