Video: Travellers remove fence to drive caravan into Doncaster business park
This is the moment travellers removed a fence – and then drove a car and caravan through the gap to set up camp on a Doncaster business park.
CCTV footage captured the incident at the Atlas park in Balby Carr Bank – and fed-up bosses say the area has been repeatedly targeted by caravans and vans using the car park as a base, with several invasions since July.
Businessman Lee Hall, director of Euro Environmental, which is based at the park, said: “The ongoing problem of travelleers trespassing the car park is affecting several small businesses.
"Over recent months there have been four separate incidents of unauthorised encampments on our shared car park, the most recent involving criminal damage to fencing to gain access.
"Despite providing CCTV footage and prompt reports to police, the situation remains unresolved, leaving legitimate, rate-paying businesses to deal with the financial loss, disruption, and anxiety this causes to staff and customers.
“We had individuals remove fencing and who then drove vehicles over grass verges to gain access to the site.
“Each occurrence has caused significant disruption to operations, loss of parking, and anxiety among staff, many of whom now feel uncomfortable attending or parking at work.”
The latest footage shows one person removing fencing around the centre’s car park. A white pick-up truck towing a large caravan can then be seen squeezing through the gap across a verge and kerbs into the car park.
Mr Hall added: “We’ve followed every correct procedure — reported the incidents immediately, supplied CCTV evidence, and reinforced the site boundaries — but nothing changes.
"Small, rate-paying businesses are left footing the bill while the police fail to use the powers already available to them.”
Businesses on the site have incurred thousands of pounds in eviction and repair costs, with owners calling for stronger, faster enforcement against repeat trespass incidents that threaten jobs and livelihoods.
The matter has also been raised with Doncaster MP Sally Jameson.
Added Mr Hall: “We hope this latest incident will prompt a more decisive and consistent response from South Yorkshire Police to protect small enterprises from ongoing disruption.”