With a busy bank holiday weekend ahead, and a prestigious British powerboating championships being contested on Oulton Broad, concerns have been raised after travellers set up camps in two car parks.
Two groups of travellers, parked in Lowestoft and Oulton Broad, have been issued with eviction notices to move on from the sites tomorrow. About nine caravans arrived in an area near Pets Corner in Oulton Broad, while families also pitched up with vehicles on the Belvedere Road car park earlier this week.
A Waveney District Council spokesman said: 'The council is working closely with Suffolk Police and the Norfolk and Suffolk Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Liaison Service and in accordance with the Suffolk-wide protocol for unauthorised encampments, regular visits have been made to the site.
'A case conference has now been held for each encampment, determining that a Common Law Notice be served requiring those present to vacate both sites on Saturday, May 27. Should this not be the case, we will begin proceedings to move the encampments on.'
Car parking concerns have been raised by business owners and the Lowestoft & Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club (LOBMBC), who are hosting the Lowestoft Grand Prix this Sunday and Monday.
Competitors and their families from across the country will be descending on Oulton Broad for the second round of the Powerboat GP RYA Championships. LOBMBC club commodore Peter Mantripp said: 'The car parking issue we have got is that as the powerboat competitors and officials take over the other two car parks in Oulton Broad, there would not be anywhere for the spectators to park.'
And Marion Holness, one of the owners of Pets Corner in Oulton Broad, said: 'It is the busiest weekend of the year and we are worried our customers will not come and visit us because they can't see us and they can't park. But we are still here and open and we would encourage anyone coming to visit us to give us a call and knock on the gate to get our attention.'
Ben Falat, chairman of Oulton Broad Parish Council, said they had been involved in discussions with the district council, and had voiced the strong concerns of local businesses and the powerboat club.
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