RAYLEIGH'S MP has called for a change in the law after a group of travellers moved on to a leisure centre car park for the third time in six months.

A group of travellers pitched up at Rayleigh Leisure Centre on Thursday, with several caravans seen in the car park.

The leisure centre car park, on Priory Chase, has frequently been used by travellers for illegal encampments, including back in October and June last year.

Mark Francois, Member of Parliament for Rayleigh and Wickford, has hit out at the return of the travellers and said there needs to be a change in the law to make it easier for authorities to move them on.

He said the UK Government should adopt the "Irish Option" which would see deliberate trespass become a criminal offence, rather than a civil one.

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Mr Francois said: "Yet again, we appear to be facing an illegal traveller incursion at Rayleigh Leisure centre, this time in the car park, rather than on the playing fields behind.

"Essex Police have apparently visited the site, but not issued a Section 61 Notice, and Rochford District Council have begun the legal process to have the travellers moved on.

"Time and again, we go through this ridiculous cat and mouse game, to evict travellers from land they are illegally occupying.

"However, the process can be time consuming, as well as costing local council tax payers’ money, because trespass remains a civil offence in law.

"After years of enduring this nonsense, about which I have had endless complaints from my constituents, that is why I and other Conservative MPs have been lobbying the Government for several years to introduce the so called “Irish Option”.

"In Ireland, the law was changed some years ago to make acts of deliberate trespass a criminal rather than merely a civil offence.

"I and many of my Parliamentary colleagues believe that if we were to adopt the Irish system, this would act as a deterrent and lead to far fewer illegal incursions, if those who do so risk having their vehicles impounded as a result.

"Covid-19 or not, I will continue to press in Parliament, alongside my colleagues to persuade the Government to bring forward legislation to enact the 'Irish Option' in England, so hopefully, these illegal incursions at sites in our community will become a thing of the past."

The travellers have been issued with an order to leave the site by Monday.