Police asked to check if park gate was cut open

POLICE have been asked by Plymouth City Council to examine CCTV from the Life Centre after a padlock and chain on a gate were cut, shortly before Travellers set up an unauthorised encampment at Central Park.

- By CARL EVE

Locals said the group of caravans, campervans and vehicles arrived late on Sunday, August 17, and entered through a gate that had recently been repaired.

Earlier this month, the post of the gate at Central Park was accidentally knocked down by a council bin lorry and 40 minutes later Travellers used the unsecured gate to access a field beyond.

Council staff issued a Notice to Quit, and a few days later the Travellers moved on. Council staff carried out repairs to the metal post and re-secured the gate with a padlock and chain.

However, park users spotted a new group of Travellers on Sunday, August 17, who appeared to have accessed the same field, through the same gate.