It's a Big Fat Christmas gathering! Travellers who blocked train station with more than 65 caravans move a short distance to Cambridge University-owned car park after being kicked off by police

  • Travellers parked more than 65 caravans in a station car park over the weekend for a 'Christmas gathering'
  • But they were served with an eviction notice by police and moved on from Cambridge North car park
  • Police officers attended with the British Transport Police who were there to prevent a 'breach of the peace'
  • Now the travellers have moved on - to the nearby car park at Cowley Road where they will celebrate Christmas

Travellers who were evicted from a busy train station have now set up camp in a nearby car park where they plan on celebrating Christmas.

The family of 132 had previously brought their 65 caravans to Cambridge North station but were slapped with an eviction notice and told to move on. 

They had set up Christmas decorations, including a large inflatable Santa and their vehicles were being vacuumed and draped in fairy lights to celebrate festivities.     

But they have now moved to a former park and ride site in Cowley Road, next to Innovation Park, which is owned by St John's College, Cambridge University. 

A group of travellers evicted from a busy train station in Cambridge has now moved on to a nearby car park. They plan on celebrating Christmas at the site and have decorated the area with an inflatable Santa and fairy lights

A group of travellers evicted from a busy train station in Cambridge has now moved on to a nearby car park. They plan on celebrating Christmas at the site and have decorated the area with an inflatable Santa and fairy lights

The travellers were parked at Cambridge North station but were slapped with an eviction notice and told to move on. Their new home has inflatable Christmas decorations on display

The travellers were parked at Cambridge North station but were slapped with an eviction notice and told to move on. Their new home has inflatable Christmas decorations on display

Shortly after moving into the former park and ride site in Cowley Road, the travellers were pictured cleaning up the car park

Shortly after moving into the former park and ride site in Cowley Road, the travellers were pictured cleaning up the car park

The travellers, who residents said were 'taking up most of the car park', were evicted from their former home by bailiffs on Tuesday morning who turned up to send them on their way

The travellers, who residents said were 'taking up most of the car park', were evicted from their former home by bailiffs on Tuesday morning who turned up to send them on their way

Greater Anglia, which owned the station they had been parked at, tweeted on Sunday that drivers should avoid using the car park and try to use alternative transport to get there.     

They said: 'Warning. Travellers have set up camp in most of the car park at Cambridge North. Please use an alternative to car if you're going to Cambridge North to start your journey today. We're trying to resolve this ASAP.' 

Police officers were at the station car park on Monday with the British Transport Police who said it was there to 'prevent breach of the peace' if an eviction occurred.

The travellers, who residents said were 'taking up most of the car park', were evicted by bailiffs on Tuesday morning.

The group were given until 10.30am today to leave the site.

A man who called himself Big Doddie Stokes told Cambridge News that he had gathered 132 people and around 65 caravans together at the car park for Christmas.

A man who called himself Big Doddie Stokes had said that he had gathered 132 people and around 65 caravans together at the car park for Christmas

A man who called himself Big Doddie Stokes had said that he had gathered 132 people and around 65 caravans together at the car park for Christmas

The family had said they just wanted somewhere to celebrate Christmas and would be back on the move by Boxing Day

The family had said they just wanted somewhere to celebrate Christmas and would be back on the move by Boxing Day

The caravans were decked out in Christmas decorations and inflatable Santas were pictured on the vehicles

The caravans were decked out in Christmas decorations and inflatable Santas were pictured on the vehicles

Travellers who were evicted from a busy train station have now set up camp in a nearby car park to celebrate Christmas

Travellers who were evicted from a busy train station have now set up camp in a nearby car park to celebrate Christmas

He explained that his family was looking for somewhere the children and elderly relatives can spend Christmas together.

Speaking to Cambridge News,he said: 'The way we look at it, it's out of town. We're not going to cause any hassle for anybody. All we want is Christmas. It gets to Boxing Day, we shift.'

St John’s Innovation Park was opened in 1987 and was the first innovation centre in Europe to focus on supporting knowledge-based businesses.

Cambridge North station in the Chesterton area of the city is one of the newest of the rail network.

It was opened to passengers in May 2017 with the official opening by the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling in August.

It is managed by train operator Greater Anglia, with Great Northern trains also stopping at the station, providing connections to London’s King’s Cross and Liverpool Street stations, and Ely, Norwich and Cambridge. The station serves Cambridge Science and Business Parks. 

Police officers were at the station car park on Tuesday with the British Transport Police who said it was there to 'prevent breach of the peace' if an eviction occurred

Police officers were at the station car park on Tuesday with the British Transport Police who said it was there to 'prevent breach of the peace' if an eviction occurred

Greater Anglia train company tweeted on Sunday that drivers should avoid using the car park and try to use alternative transport to get there
The train company warned that the group had 'set up camp' in the car park before moving them on

Greater Anglia train company tweeted on Sunday that drivers should avoid using the car park and try to use alternative transport to get there

The traveller group has now moved on to the former Milton Park and Ride off Cowley Road in Cambridge

The traveller group has now moved on to the former Milton Park and Ride off Cowley Road in Cambridge

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