Travellers who have set up camp on Clacton’s Vista Road Recreation Ground are due to appear in court next week.

The group of 14 caravans were all issued a court summons today (Thursday) by the Essex Countywide Traveller Unit (ECTU).

They were previously issued with a Direction to Leave by the unit which gave them 24 hours to move off the Tendring Council-owned site but they failed to do so.

The Travellers are now due to go before Colchester Magistrates Court and it is expected they will then leave within hours of receiving their court order – and before bailiffs are called in.

Another four caravans arrived at Vista Road more recently and their details have now been taken by the ECTU and will they receive their Direction to Leave tomorrow (Friday).

More travellers were expected to arrive last night and Tendring Council said the same process will be started with these travellers.

Tendring cabinet member for housing, Paul Honeywood, said the whole process normally takes 5-7 days from when the travellers arrive.

“We would expect the majority to move off on Monday evening or early on Tuesday following the court summons for Monday,” he said.

“It will then take a little longer to have the remaining group removed as they have turned up considerably later.

“However, we will continue to go through the correct and laid down procedures to ensure that happens.”

In the meantime, Tendring Council instructed its waste and recycling contractors Veolia to clear two sites on Holland Marshes recently occupied by Travellers.

A further group are set up on private land in Stephenson Road West and it will be down to the landowners to take their own action.