THE owners of an empty forecourt in east Hull have instructed bailiffs to remove travellers who have moved on to the site.
About 15 caravans pitched up on the former Evans Halshaw forecourt in Holderness Road.
PPH Commercial manages the site on behalf of the owner.
Tom Penrose, of PPH, said: "Our client is aware of the travellers moving on to the site and has taken immediate action.
"He has instructed the bailiffs to have the caravans removed as soon as possible."
James Tabor, who lives in nearby Abbey Street, is concerned about the arrival of the travellers.
He said: "I would expect the numbers to increase as the plot is a very large, unsecured, open-air area.
"This is likely to quickly become the source of criminal issues following the illegal occupation of the adjacent former Cornmill Hotel site a few years ago.
"The local residents' experience of the Cornmill Hotel site included nuisance complaints, human waste and fly-tipping."
Travellers moved onto the Cornmill Hotel site about six years ago.
About 80 tons of rubbish had to be cleared when it was vacated.
The travellers had spent four months camped in the car park.
Those who cleaned up the site removed everything from empty gas cannisters to rotting food using lifting gear and a fleet of tankers.
Residents complained of the rubbish and noise on the site.
Earlier this month, travellers returned to a residential area in west Hull for the sixth time in three years.
Eight or nine caravans pitched up on land close to Woolwich Drive.
Hull City Council took court action to have them removed but they left before the court hearing took place.
If the land is privately owned, it is not the local authority's responsibility to have travellers removed.
There are a number of steps that could be taken:
It is often best for the landowner to initially speak to the travellers to find out how long they intend to occupy the land and, if possible, try to reach an agreement on when they will move on.
The landowner could contact the local authority for advice.
Although the council can only apply for a court order if it owns the land, it may be able to offer advice on preventative measures or occasionally they may be able to find space on their permanent sites.
In some circumstances, the police may be able to assist in moving travellers from a site using their legislative powers.
However, occupying private or council-owned land is not a criminal offence, so they will probably advise landowners to take legal action instead.
