Oldham Council has secured a court order requiring the removal of an unauthorised encampment from Oldham Edge following complaints from residents and park users.
Council officers first visited the site on Thursday 6 August after concerns were raised. Those at the encampment told officers they intended to leave by Saturday 8 August.
Formal Direction Served
When the site had not been vacated by that date, the Council returned on Tuesday 11 August with support from Greater Manchester Police. A formal direction was served under Section 77 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, requiring those at the encampment to leave and remove their vehicles and belongings.
Officers also provided those at the site with information about authorised sites in Greater Manchester, along with advice about health, wellbeing and reporting hate crime.
Court Order and Removal
After the direction was not followed, the Council began court proceedings. On Monday 17 August, Tameside Magistrates' Court granted an order requiring the removal of the encampment. The site was vacated later that day.
A significant amount of waste was left behind. The Council's cleansing team has since removed it and returned the area to the local community.
A Council spokesperson said the authority understood the concerns raised by residents and thanked them for their patience while the legal process was followed. "We always try to resolve unauthorised encampments through discussion and voluntary cooperation wherever possible," the spokesperson added. "However, when the site was not vacated as agreed, it became necessary to take further action. We worked closely with Greater Manchester Police throughout to make sure the situation was handled lawfully and proportionately."
