Council calls for protesters to leave peacefully and voluntarily so new social homes can be built

Whist we want to avoid court action, if the Council does not receive vacant possession of the site before 8 March, we will have no alternative but to go to Court and obtain a possession order and subsequently evict the trespassers.

This public land is part of the Tidemill development which will provide 117 much-needed new social homes for local people. These new homes will bring improvement to the lives of local people who have been on our waiting list for social housing for far too long.

Councillor Paul Bell, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: ‘We want to move forward with building these vital social homes for local people and families who have been waiting years for secure, affordable housing.

‘Work has already started on the main site and we now need to ensure that work continues to progress. Every day there is a delay to the scheme, a family has to wait even longer for a home of their own. We are determined to tackle the housing crisis by delivering 1,000 new social homes and the Tidemill development is a key part of that commitment.’