An injunction against unauthorised traveller encampments in Harlow has been temporarily extended.
The injunction, which had been set to expire on June 14, was extended after a court hearing over a new injunction was adjourned.
Harlow Council had applied to the High Court for a new injunction of reduced scope due to less evidence of 'criminality, nuisance, and harm' associated with illegal encampments than when it made its last application.
On June 12, following an application from a third party requesting time to review the injunction paperwork, the High Court agreed a short adjournment of the hearing for the application for the revised injunction.
The hearing will now take place on Friday, July 10.
If approved, the new injunction will prevent the setting-up of unauthorised encampments on Harlow Town Football Club (currently being used as a Covid-19 test site), Harlow Common, Latton Common, industrial estates, enterprise zones, and the entire cycle track network.
A spokesperson for the council said: “It is clear from expert legal advice that the councils would not get the current district-wide injunction extended without more extensive evidence of a continuing threat of nuisance, criminality, and harm to Harlow on the same scale experienced between 2013 and 2015.
“Therefore, a modified version of the injunction is being sought that has been guided by the recent evidence. This decision has been made following advice from legal experts who have helped us get injunctions over the last five years.
“Harlow has the highest number of authorised public pitches in Essex located across two permanent traveller sites in the town. We will continue to work with Essex County Council to ensure that future planning obligations are met and that the existing permanent public traveller sites are well managed and help meet future demand for pitches.”
The current injunction was last extended three years ago; the town has employed High-Court injunctions against illegal encampments since March 2015.
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