A TEIGNBRIDGE councillor is disappointed his suggestion that County Hall takes future action to prevent travellers pitching up in his ward has been dismissed.

Fed-up Cllr Adrian Patch represents Liverton near Bovey Tracey, where a Devon County Council (DCC) works depot by Drumbridges roundabout on the A38 has regularly been occupied by groups of travellers.

This is despite the county stepping up security measures. After the last group were there in December, some £18,000 of taxpayers’ money was spent in security and clean-up costs.

In spite of new locks and heavy concrete barriers blocking the entrance to the site – used to store Highways Department material – a new group took occupation during lockdown in April.

County Hall has said their hands are tied due to lockdown regulations and they cannot yet begin legal proceedings to get the travellers moved off the site.

They stated: ‘They cannot be moved on as it would be an unnecessary journey if they have nowhere else to go.’

Cllr Patch wanted the county to initiate a pre-emptive order to prevent any future drawn out court battles.

County Hall’s legal team have said such measures could be costly and uncertain.

A DCC spokesman said: ‘A pre-emptive injunction (also known as an interim prohibitory injunction) could be used to prevent travellers using the Drumbridges site. However we have always felt that such an injunction would not be appropriate.’

The council explained that normal possession orders can be obtained through the County Court relatively quickly and cheaply, and the outcome is easy to predict as it is hard for a trespasser to defend a possession claim.

A spokesman said: ‘Even if the occupants have significant welfare issues, that will only be grounds for postponing the possession order for up to six weeks.’

On the other hand pre-emptive injunctions are granted at the absolute discretion of the court, so it is much more difficult to predict the outcome. A costly barrister would need to be hired and DCC would have to show that there is a strong probability of harm being suffered by DCC.

‘The fact that there are a couple of encampments a year at the Drumbridges site probably isn’t going to be sufficient,’ the spokesman added.

There is a further risk that if a judgement is later found to be wrong, the county could be liable for compensation.

The spokesman concluded: ‘Essentially, our current processes are less expensive, less financially risky and more likely to achieve the aim, albeit it means the travellers will be on site for a little while.

‘During Covid, DCC has taken the view that it is better to discourage travellers from moving around by allowing them to camp where they are so as to decrease the risk of the virus being spread if any of the travellers are infected.’

Cllr Patch responded: ‘Liverton residents are not going to gain any satisfaction at all from DCC’s approach to this piece of land.

‘They seem intent on tolerating a couple of unauthorised encampments a year at the site. It is often overlooked that the entrance to this site is in a dangerous location on a tight bend with a national speed limit. I dread to think of the results of a traffic accident occurring due to a large vehicle such as coach or lengthy caravan (as have recently entered the compound) using that entrance.

Cllr Mervyn Wills, chairman of nearby Ilsington Parish Council, said: ‘No-one seems to be interested, neither the police nor DCC.

‘When the first vehicle arrived I called the police. It took 90 minutes to get through and then, because I was not the owner, they couldn’t do anything.

‘Likewise, Devon seem to take the side of the travellers. We’ve had at least four lots in recent years.

‘A fellow councillor saw a SWW worker who was looking to install a water supply for them. Devon just brushes the costs under the carpet. It’s very frustrating for the taxpayer.’

He added: ‘They should keep the site filled with gravel to prevent entry.’

Cllr Patch said: ‘I will continue to press DCC for more robust action at this site.’