Order for Injunction Notices
Many of you will have noticed the signs that have been put up around the perimeter of the Commons for an Injunction Notice against "persons unknown". Here's why....
Confirmation of Three Year Injunction Order - Update as at December 2018
Following the illegal incursion of thirteen caravans and twenty two other vehicles onto the Richardson Evans Memorial Playing Fields at Roehampton Vale last September, we reported that the Conservators had sought an immediate Writ of Possession to have the vehicles removed. This was granted by the High Court and the vehicles moved off within 48 hours.
Following that, the Conservators also agreed to seek an injunction covering Wimbledon and Putney Commons in their entirety against further incursions for three years. This decision was in line with the actions of other local authorities in south west London/Surrey who were taking out similar injunctions in order to manage the increasing number of such incidents onto their land.
The first stage of that process took place on 16th October when the Conservators, supported by their legal representatives, obtained an Interim Injunction Order in the High Courts of Justice for two months against ‘persons unknown occupying land and/or depositing waste on land’ forming any part of Wimbledon and Putney Commons". Copies of the Order were posted at prominent locations around the perimeter of the Commons and we reported that a further High Court hearing would take place later in mid-December in order to confrim the Order for the full three years.
That Hearing took place on 13th December and again, supported by their legal representatives, the Conservators were granted the three year Injunction Order in the High Court of Justice.
Mrs Diane Neil Mills, Chairman of the Board of Conservators commented: “The confirmation of a three year Injunction Order against persons unknown ‘occupying land and/or depositing waste on land’ forming any part of Wimbledon and Putney Commons is welcomed. This will provide the Commons with significant protection in line with the Conservators’ duties under the founding Act of Parliament of making the Commons available for the purposes of recreation, exercise and other purposes”.
Copies of the new Order have, at the instruction of the Judge, been laminated and posted at prominent locations around the perimeter of the Commons. As the notices will need to be in place for three years, a more permanent solution will be looked at in early 2019.
If you ever see anyone acting suspiciously on or around the Commons, please do contact the Ranger's Office immediately on 020 8788 7655
Click here for a copy of the Order
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October 2018
On the evening of 10th September 2018, thirteen caravans and twenty two other vehicles illegally entered and parked on the Richardson Evans Memorial Playing Fields in Roehampton Vale.
During the thirty hours of this traveller incursion considerable damage was sustained to the Playing Fields. Cars were dismantled resulting in broken glass left on the pitches, goal posts broken and considerable detritus and rubbish deposited across the area.
The Conservators and the Chief Executive took immediate action in the High Court to obtain a Writ of Possession to enable us to remove them immediately and the vehicles were moved off site by 6pm on Wednesday 12th September. Following on from this, we were advised to post copies of the Writ of Possession around the area it covers - Wimbledon Common and Putney Heath - in order to publicise that it is in place.
There have been an increasing number of such incursions in the area in recent years and many local authorities surrounding the Commons have obtained injunctions to potect land in their ownership.
The Conservators have therefore taken the decision to apply for a similar injunction to cover Wimbledon and Putney Commons in their entirety against further incursions. They consider this to be a proportionate and appropriate to ensure the Commons are protected as without this in place, the Commons will be left increasingly vulnerable and susceptible to further incursions. Regular visitors to the Commons will remember the incursion on Putney Heath in 2013 which resulted in costs to the charity of £35,000 just to clear the area of the rubbish and detritus, including asbestos, that was left behind.
On Tuesday 16th October 2018, Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators, supported by their legal representatives, obtained an Interim Injunction Order in the High Court of Justice against ‘persons unknown occupying land and/or depositing waste on land’ forming any part of Wimbledon and Putney Commons. Copies of the Order have been posted at prominent locations around the perimeter of the Commons and a further court hearing will take place later in mid-December this year when it is envisaged that the Injunction Order will be confirmed for a three-year period (to 2021).
The September incident incurred £18,000 in costs to the WPCC for the removal of the travellers and to repair the damage caused by the incursion. A further £15,000 in costs were incurred by the charity in obtaining the injunction.