TRAVELLERS have returned to a posh park outside £2m homes in leafy Kew Green as the council launched legal action to remove them.
The group have set up camp in the affluent suburb in West London after arriving on Wednesday evening with around 21 caravans and other vehicles.
Park Guard officers, who work for Richmond Council, will be patrolling the area along with the police until the campers leave.
Pictures show groups of children playing in the park which has been taken over by the dozens of vehicles.
A group of travellers previously caused problems in May when they rocked up at the camp to bask in the scorching 24C temperatures.
Richmond Council confirmed it would start the legal process to obtain and enforce a Possession Order in a bid to drive the travellers away from the site.
Delays are likely, however, due to a High Court order handed down earlier this year in May.
The order denies local authorities an extension to a previously-made rule that speeded up legal action.
'MONITORING THE SITE CLOSELY'
A statement about the situation published on the council website Thursday read: "Following reports that an unauthorised group of travellers arrived on Kew Green on 4 August, the Council has commenced the legal process that will require them to leave.
“It is expected that the process will take a number of days.
“This is necessary due to a High Court order earlier this year that denied the Council’s request to extend the previous expedited injunction process, in common with numerous other local authorities.
“Therefore, the Council now has to go via the courts each time."
Councillor Julia Neden-Watts, Chair of the Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports Committee, added: "As soon as the travellers leave, we will inspect the area and ensure that any damage is repaired, and waste removed.
“Our Park Guard officers, along with the Police, will be monitoring the site closely until the group depart."
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