TRAVELLERS illegally parked at a local site will soon be asked to move on thanks to a recent high court injunction.

Dartmoor National Park Authority was granted the injunction for Marley Head travellers' site in South Brent last month, meaning that the 30 illegally parked occupants will have to vacate the area by March 2013. The DNP had applied for the injunction earlier this year and was finally granted it at Bristol High Court in November. The privately-owned land has been occupied since January 2007.

Chairman of the DNP Bill Hitchins said: 'We now have the injunction in place to execute the removal but we are in discussion with the travellers about how and when they can vacate. It would be unreasonable to make them leave now due to the poor weather conditions so we are working with them and asking them to move by March next year.

'The only exception to this is one family whose child is undertaking exams in the summer. To keep life as stable as possible this family will be asked to move after the exams have been completed.

'We have an official process with several assessments to go through and are in dialogue with several organisations about alternative accommodation for the travellers. We can't say now where exactly they will be moved to, but we know they will have to move by next March.'

A planning enforcement notice was served in June 2010 requiring the Marley Head occupiers to leave by May 6, 2011, but that was not complied with.

The DNP said members had considered all potential options before agreeing to apply for a High Court injunction to secure a cessation of the breach of planning control.

Gerald Cleave, who part-owns the site at Marley Head, said: 'I haven't officially been told by the DNP what is going on but I will be pleased when the travellers do go. There has been a lot of unrest caused by them being here and a lot of trouble for me, so I will be pleased when it is all over and done with.'

South Hams Council is responsible for housing travellers and works in conjunction with Devon County Council, which has responsibility for the welfare of travellers.

A spokesman for South Hams Council said: 'If anyone from the travelling community becomes homeless, the council will offer assistance with finding alternative accommodation, where appropriate.

'There are currently no plans for an alternative traveller or gypsy site in the South Hams. Councillors are currently looking at the options for providing for the travelling community within the district in the future.'