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The site has been earmarked for 94 new homes, featuring a combination of flats and houses
A group of travellers has once again pitched up at a popular beach car park the second summer running, as the local council launches a bid to remove them from the site.
The encampment arrived at Beach Coach Station Car Park in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, at around 1pm on Monday, prompting an immediate response from the council.
Great Yarmouth Council confirmed it was aware of the encampment, with a spokesman stating: "The council has visited the group and is now working with partner organisations to ensure the motorhomes move on promptly."
The same car park was the scene of a near-identical situation last summer, when travellers occupied the site - eventually served with a notice to leave by council officers.
The situation was resolved much faster this time round , with the group having departed the area entirely within 24 hours of their arrival.
The council spokesman later confirmed: "The travellers who had been staying at Beach Coach Station car park have now moved out of the borough.
"We have been working closely with the police and partner agencies to manage the situation and ensure the appropriate steps were taken."
The council also expressed gratitude to those affected by the disruption, and said: "Thank you to local residents and businesses for your patience and understanding while this work was ongoing."
Conservative councillor Daniel Candon said: "Great news. Myself and Borough Council colleagues pushed the police to use tougher measures to remove the illegal travellers on Beach Coach Station. Most have now left.
"The police are now working on moving the rest. We will be cleaning the site and securing access once again. This needs to be the firm standard applied to all who encroach on public land and refuse to move."
During last summer's incident, local residents reported the encampment, with one witness noting police patrols in the vicinity.
Norfolk Constabulary confirmed at the time that they were aware of the situation, and once again acted to remove the occupants.
The car park's long-term future, however, lies in residential development.
Plans have been put forward to transform the site into 94 new homes, featuring a combination of flats and houses alongside fresh access roads, open spaces and landscaping.
The site had previously been shut for three weeks in January 2025, while the council explored the feasibility of constructing 50 homes on the land before the larger scheme emerged.
The row comes as the Government changes England’s planning rules, with Conservative critics warning the reforms could make it easier for unauthorised traveller sites to secure planning permission retrospectively.
Guidance relating to environmental damage caused by unauthorised traveller sites was also removed from the updated National Planning Policy Framework.
Official figures show the number of unauthorised traveller caravans in England has risen by 73 per cent since January 2020, from 2,860 to 4,950.
But Housing Secretary Angela Rayner rejected the criticism, accusing the Tories of spreading “fake news”, and insisting the Government would “crack down on illegal traveller sites”.
The Government has also stressed that councils will retain powers to act against unlawful development amid devolution plans.
An Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesman said: “The government is cracking down on illegal traveller sites and it is completely misleading to suggest otherwise.
“Our new planning rules explicitly tackle any potential environmental damage and transport impacts, and make it harder for people to get retrospective permission for development that were built without approval.”
