A group of travellers from France, who pitched up in caravans in Royston Town Hall car park have been ordered to leave by North Herts District Council.

Royston Crow: Travellers in Royston Town Hall car parkTravellers in Royston Town Hall car park (Image: Archant)

The travellers have been the talk of the town since they moved in to the council-run car park on Friday, and were issued with a code of conduct by police.

Councillor Bernard Lovewell, responsible for housing and environmental health at the district council, said: “NHDC officers and bailiffs, accompanied by the police, visited the travellers site earlier today to serve an eviction notice. The notice requires the travellers to vacate the town hall carpark by tomorrow. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.”

The arrival of the fleet of caravans and cars caused concern among some people in the town – due to the spaces taken up, the fact that they did not pay to be there, and about the safety of the dogs they brought with them.

Their arrival prompted Angela Malster, who lives in St Marys Park, to go over and introduce herself, and she said they are ‘very nice people’.

Angela, who used to be a dog behaviourist, said: “They said they are here on holiday, and are going to a festival. Their caravans are immaculate, and they made me a cup of coffee in a china cup. They are very nice people. There is nothing nasty about them, they are just people and are trying to comply. One of them had their radio up loudly and I said ‘would you mind turning it down?’ which he agreed to do.’”

Peter Smith, who lives in King James Way, said: “They do seem like nice people, but my issues is that they are not being charged to park there, which is what I would expect if I parked there for five days. Lots of old people live here - everybody is talking about it. They must be taking up a lot of places with the way they are parked.”