A GROUP of gipsy travellers were setting up another camp in the city yesterday evening, after being evicted by the council from land at Tredegar House.

The McDonagh family moved to land near the former LG building on Blacksmiths Way off the A48, after being evicted from land near the Tredegar House visitor car park just moments earlier.

The move was prompted by Newport council issuing the family with a 24-hour eviction notice ordering them to leave the landmark site by 10am yesterday.

Police and bailiffs arrived at the site at around 12.30pm and the family eventually left at around 3.40pm, only to set up their new camp just down the road.

The family said that following negotiation with the council yesterday, they had been offered temporary housing accommodation, but this was not available until Friday, leaving them with nowhere to go until then.

One member said: “I am very angry. All we want is a house. Why could we not just stay at Tredegar House until Friday?”

The Northern Irish family, which is made up of around 12 members including adult brothers and sisters and their children, set up three caravans at the site on July 9.

David Phillips, of South East Wales Racial Equality Council (SEWREC) was also at Tredegar House yesterday, helping the family.

He said: “Weare negotiating with the council and the travellers to find them some housing where the children will be safe.”

ANewport council spokeswoman said: “Newport City Council would have preferred that the travellers had voluntarily left the site, but it was necessary for the caravans to be removed. Gwent Police were also in attendance, to prevent any breach of the peace.”

She added that the council had a duty to assist people who claim they are homeless or are likely to become homeless, but a number of criteria have to be met.

She added: “We do not comment on individual claims of homelessness.”