East Herts Council and police working to move travellers on from Southern Country Park in Bishop’s Stortford

East Herts Council (EHC) officers and police are working to move on an “unauthorised encampment” in Southern Country Park in Bishop’s Stortford.

Police received several calls at around 4.20pm on Thursday (August 29) to report that a number of vehicles and caravans had arrived in the area.

A motorist who was passing and noticed “loads of caravans piling in” told the Indie that they had entered the park via an access at the corner of the A1184 St James’ Way and Obrey Way.

EHC owns the Green Flag award-winning park. One of its members, Cllr Graham McAndrew (Con, Bishop’s Stortford Thorley Manor), said: “Council officers will visit the travellers [on Friday] and issue notices for them to leave.

“The council will take the necessary actions to enforce them moving on within the next few days. We ask for residents’ patience while we do the necessary work in the background.”

Jim Hook, chair of the Friends of Southern Country Park, said just before 6pm on Thursday: “Some people have accessed the park with mobile caravans and are parked up at the far end of the lake near the Old Pond, just beyond Middle Wood.

“There appear to be three or four caravans, a car and a mobile wood chipper, and some dogs in small kennels.

“East Herts [Council] and the police are aware and will deal with the matter.

“You are advised not to approach the people concerned, but, as always, if you see any other activity in the park that you consider might be criminal, please report it to the police on 101 or in an emergency 999.”

At 8.15pm he added: “We are aware that more vehicles have been arriving and accessing the park through the horse hop access at the western end of the park near the Moor Hall Lane roundabout. We are keeping East Herts informed.”

A spokeswoman for Hertfordshire Constabulary said on Friday morning: “We are working with landowners to resolve the situation and continue to monitor the area.”