Oldham Council has secured a court order to remove an unauthorised encampment from Oldham Edge after the group failed to leave voluntarily.

Council officers first visited the site on Thursday 6th August after residents and park users raised concerns. Those at the encampment said they intended to leave by Saturday 8th August, but did not.

The Council returned with Greater Manchester Police on Tuesday 11th August and served a formal direction under Section 77 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, requiring the group to leave and remove their vehicles and belongings.

The Council also provided information about authorised sites in Greater Manchester, along with advice on health, wellbeing and reporting hate crime.

After the direction was not followed, the Council began court proceedings. On Monday 17th August, Tameside Magistrates' Court granted a removal order and the site was vacated later that day.

A significant amount of waste was left behind, which has now been removed by the Council's cleansing team.

A Council spokesperson said: "We understand the concerns raised by residents and people using Oldham Edge, and we thank them for their patience while we followed the legal process."

The spokesperson said the Council tries to resolve unauthorised encampments through discussion and voluntary cooperation, but further action was necessary when the site was not vacated as agreed.