Published: Thursday, 10th April, 2008 07:00
‘It is disgraceful... everywhere we go we are treated like dogs’
By Alex Gore
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TRAVELLERS who moved onto council owned land last week have claimed that they are treated like dogs after being served with an eviction notice.
A convoy of four caravans and two vans moved onto a patch of grass alongside Portman Road, near the Cow Lane mini-roundabout at around 3pm last Friday and were almost immediately asked to leave by police.
But they were still there on Monday morning and Reading Borough Council obtained an eviction order and began court action to move them on. Traveller
John Paul Lawrence, 23, said: “I feel like I’ve been arrested.
“It’s disgraceful. It’s not fair. All we want to do is find a camp, relax and go to sleep but everywhere we go we are being treated like dogs.
“The police keep threatening us and say ‘you travellers are good for nothing and get out of our town’.
“We are going to move because we have to or they’ll put us into the cell.
“We want traveller sites, anywhere in a 20 mile radius of Reading is fine.
“It is not fair, these are our homes. We just want a camp site with proper electricity and running water, we are just looking for a place to live.
“We all feel intimidated.”
Thames Valley Police spokesman Adam Fisher said: “The travellers are currently situated on Highways land and therefore it is up to the council to seek eviction. Police will continue to monitor this situation.”
Council spokesman Oscar Mortali said: “These travellers are on Reading Borough Council land and on Monday morning were given notice in writing by the council to vacate.
"The council is taking steps to issue court proceedings to regain possession.”
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