A NOTICE has been issued by police for a group of travellers to leave the Kursaal car park.

The group moved onto the land on Saturday and there has since been reports of disruption and anti-social behaviour at the site.

Essex Police have confirmed they have served a Section 61 notice for the encampment of around ten caravans to move on from the site today.

Matt Dent, Kursaal ward councillor, said: "I have received a lot of reports of noise, disruption and antisocial behaviour from residents adjacent to the Kursaal, particularly of Marks Court and the Woodgrange Drive Estate.

"I can assure residents I am doing everything within my power to resolve the situation, which is complicated by the fact that the travellers are parked on private land. I would strongly urge residents to continue to report incidents to the police.

"According to Chief Inspector Hughes, there are representatives of the landowner on site requesting those present to leave, who are currently citing vehicle issues which are preventing them from leaving immediately.

"The location will continue to be visited and engaged with by the police to ensure that any negative activity is kept to a minimum and Chief Inspector Hughes has promised to keep me updated, and I will likewise keep residents updated."

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "Since receiving calls about an unauthorised traveller encampment in the Kursaal area of Southend we have been working with our authority partners to resolve the situation and identify the landowner.

"Unauthorised encampments are a civil act of trespass and in the first instance landowners have powers get an encampment to move on.

"We cannot act to direct an unauthorised encampment move off land until the landowner has taken reasonable steps to get an encampment to move.

"In this particular case it took some time to identify the landowner.

"Uniformed officers have been in the area to provide a visible presence to reassure and engage with the community.

"A Section 61 Notice has now been served to the encampment directing them to leave the site by lunchtime tomorrow.

"A visible police presence will remain in the area until that time to provide reassurance to the community."