A COURT order has been granted to evict three families who are temporarily residing at Tara Park in Malton.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, government guidance was for local authorities to allow travellers access to amenities, to limit the spread of the virus and keep people safe.

Ryedale District Council (RDC) allowed seven families to move onto Tara Park as a temporary measure, however complaints were made over noise levels, including an all-night gathering. As a result, an eviction notice was served last month. Section 77 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 gives a local authority the ability to order any person living in a vehicle within its area to move off any land that is occupied, but where the occupier has not given permission to her/him to reside there.

A spokesperson for RDC said: “The court has granted an order, which means that three families who were staying at the Tara Park site temporarily, and who were not authorised to stay on a permanent basis, must leave. The court has directed that the travellers work with RDC to secure alternative arrangements. RDC is committed to working with the families to avoid any action by enforcement agents.”