People living in Great Yarmouth caravans handed eviction papers

David Young agreed to move into a hostel after rats got inside his camper van

People living in caravans on a Norfolk seafront have been served with eviction papers.

One of the group on South Beach Parade in Great Yarmouth claims to have spent the past seven years in the same spot.

The vehicles are parked between the seafront and an industrial estate just south of the Pleasure Beach.

Norfolk County Council said it had served eviction notices on a number of unauthorised encampments in the area.

The authority has given them until 5 January to move their vehicles.

David Young, 65, said he moved to the site in 2016 after selling his narrowboat in Ely, Cambridgeshire and being unable to afford conventional accommodation.

But he has now been accepted into a local hostel as the eviction papers coincided with rats getting into his campervan.

"It's damp and cold and there were rats coming in, so I had to go," he said.

"I've been here for seven years and nobody has ever bothered me. Getting this eviction notice didn't come hard but it still surprised me a little bit, but I've accepted it."

Rats have eaten through electric cables, hoses and belts in the engine compartment of his van. More recently they got into his living quarters and even his bed.

"They come all round the van when I go out and when I come home they must scurry off again. I've been asleep and heard them scratching and I thought I can't get back to sleep now. They're dangerous and filthy."

John Smith, 62, moved to the site in March, parking up his Leyland DAF truck, which had previously been used as a mobile workshop and accommodation unit at motor-racing events.

John Smith says he has until 5 January to leave the site

"It's a comfortable life for me. It's nice and warm," he said. "It's quite nice up here really.

"I don't think people like seeing these sorts of things parked up this area, but we're out of the way and we're not causing any problem to anyone.

"I'm not causing a problem [but] we've got notices to be off by 5 January, so I shall have to move off and find somewhere else."

A spokesperson for Norfolk County Council said: "Our officers have visited a number of locations in Great Yarmouth to serve eviction notices on those occupying unauthorised encampments on public land.

"Throughout this process we have worked closely with partner agencies responsible for homelessness, including the borough council, under agreed protocols, to ensure legal procedures are followed.

"We cannot comment on individuals or individual cases, but we can confirm that all statutory responsibilities have been discharged by the county council."

Great Yarmouth Borough Council said in a statement that it was "working in partnership with colleagues at Norfolk County Council, as the landowner on this issue, and have undertaken a joint visit to support those people living in the caravans on South Beach Parade".

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