Clean-up operation begins as travellers leave council car park in Prestatyn after forcing restaurant’s closure

Travellers who pitched up on a car park, forcing a Prestatyn restaurant to remain closed, have now left and a clean-up operation has begun.

More than two dozen vehicles had turned the council car park next to CookHouse Pub and Carvery on High Street, Prestatyn, into a makeshift camp on Friday of last week.

Residents complained to local councillors who said the council had been given new guidelines not to move on Travellers during the pandemic.

However, after local MP James Davies pointed out the guidance was not law and CookHouse had released a statement saying it would have to remain closed while the Travellers remained, they moved on Tuesday morning.

CookHouse released a statement on Monday evening informing customers they would not be opening.

It read: “Following on from events that have occurred before and over the weekend on the council-run car park located adjacent to the CookHouse Pub and Carvery, we would like to inform our regular and loyal customers that we are currently unable to open as planned following the Welsh government ‘fire break’.

“The occupation of the car park by a number of caravans and campervans has meant that our business, which has operated from the adjacent premises for over five-and-a-half years, providing a hub for the community, paying its rates and employing countless local people, can currently not open its doors to the public.

“We are surprised and disappointed the local parking enforcement agents have not issued the offending vehicles with parking enforcement notices, given the vehicles are not parked in allocated bays and that campervans/caravans are not permitted to park on this car park.

“We have been in dialogue with Denbighshire Council over the last few days, but are extremely disappointed that the occupants of these vehicles are being left to stay on the car park, with little pressure being put on them to leave.

“The council seem to be uninterested in resolving this situation and are clearly happy to see local businesses remain closed, putting their future in jeopardy in what are already unprecedented times.”

Denbighshire councillors Paul Penlington and Anton Sampson, who both represent Prestatyn wards, both said they’d also made representations to the authority after complaints of anti-social behaviour from residents.

Prestatyn North councillor Penlington said officers had been meeting early on Tuesday looking for a way to proceed.

On his Facebook page Plaid Cymru’s Cllr Penlington said: “First time I’ve agreed with James Davies (Vale of Clwyd Conservative MP).

“If the complaints I’ve received and reports of anti-social behaviour are true, DCC need to take immediate action to address this.”

Mr Davies, Conservative MP for the Vale of Clwyd, had earlier released a statement in which he claimed he’d “received numerous complaints about the havoc being caused last week and even more over the weekend”.

He said section 77 orders, which allow Travellers to be moved on from unofficial encampments, were still being issued in England.

He said by not acting Denbighshire council risked “encouraging more such encampments from areas where the law is being enforced”.

Reports locally said the Travellers had moved off in the direction of Rhyl and Cllr Sampson confirmed a clean-up operation had begun.

A Denbighshire council spokesman said officers had made regular visits to the site and took “a number of measures to minimise the impact on the local area”.

The site has now been cleared and the car park is open.

He added: “The council is currently reviewing its procedures and processes to ensure we are doing all we can to limit disruption from any future encampments while also adhering to Welsh Government legislation and guidance.

“The council understands this was a difficult time for many in the area and would like to thank residents and local businesses for their understanding and patience.”

Another illegal Traveller encampment at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay, has as yet to be resolved.

Despite claims of anti-social behaviour in the locality Conwy county council has still not found a resolution.

In a statement the council said: “We are aware of an unauthorised encampment at Eirias Park and are taking steps to resolve the situation bearing in mind the relevant legislation, statutory and non-statutory guidance.”

By Jez Hemming – Local Democracy Reporter