The unauthorised traveller camp at Sett Valley Trail Car Park in Hayfield has now been vacated.
The camp, which was illegally occupying Torr Top Car Park in New Mills, relocated to Sett Valley Trail Car Park in Hayfield after High Peak Borough Council served it notice to vacate the site.
Local MP Robert Largan contacted Derbyshire County Council as owners of Sett Valley Trail Car Park, asking them to begin enforcement proceedings immediately.
During Business Questions in Parliament last week (23 September), Robert asked the Rt Hon Jacob Rees-Mogg MP, Leader of the House, for a debate on the laws of trespass, highlighting the traveller site in New Mills.
The High Peak MP asked:
"On Monday, an unauthorised Travellers' camp was set up on Torr Top car park in the centre of New Mills, blocking the car park, including the disabled bays, for all other users. This has caused concern, particularly among local businesses on the high street that are worried about the impact of the loss of the car park on their customers and footfall. May we have a debate on the laws relating to trespass and look at whether we need to give the police more powers so that they can take action on such cases in future?"
In response, the Leader of the House said:
"I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising this matter. The Government's overarching aim is to ensure fair and equal treatment for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in a way that facilitates their traditional nomadic way of life. However, we are equally clear that we will not tolerate law-breaking and are determined to ensure that police have the powers they need to support and serve their communities. I will take up my hon. Friend's concerns with the Home Secretary, because it is important that the law should apply equally to all."
Robert Largan, MP for High Peak, commented:
"I'm pleased that the unauthorised camps at Torr Top Car Park in New Mills and at Sett Valley Trail Car Park in Hayfield have now been vacated.
"I would like to thank the local councils and Derbyshire Police, who have acted swiftly in serving notice.
"I've highlighted the issue in Parliament, and I'm encouraged that the Government are bringing forward new laws to give the police the power to act. As the Leader of the House of Commons set out in his reply, the law must be applied equally to all.
"Bizarrely, High Peak Labour Party members have attacked me for supporting residents and businesses who have called for the law to be enforced, to the bafflement of us all.
"To be clear, I believe in equal treatment for Gypsy, Roma & Traveller communities. However, this means being treated equally within the law.
"Trespassing on and illegally occupying local car parks—denying residents, the disabled and businesses the use of them—is unacceptable.”
