Wait continues for travellers to leave illegal campsite

Travellers could remain illegally camped in Shurlock Road even if two applications for judicial reviews are refused, the Royal Borough has warned.

On Wednesday last week the borough responded to a second application submitted by one of the 40-plus occupants of the site.

It concerns whether the council was correct in its decision to refuse a retrospective planning application to make the traveller site permanent in February.

The average time for a decision to be reached on the applications is 11 weeks.

The camp was scheduled to be cleared in April but direct action was called off by the High Court after the judicial reviews were lodged.

Cllr MJ Saunders, cabinet member for planning and property, said even if the applications are refused the travellers could appeal the decision.

"We are in the judge's hands now and await their decision about whether there are grounds for a judicial review of either of the council's decisions," he added.

A response to the first application was sent to the High Court at the start of the month.