Sunderland City Council taking action after travellers' caravans spotted on former Vaux brewery site

The vehicles were spotted on Monday, September 7 on the council-owned land which was once the site of the Vaux Brewery prior to its closure in 1999.

Now with several caravans occupying the site on Plater Way, Sunderland City Council have spoken to the travellers and are taking action.

A public sector partnership purchased the derelict 26-acre site for an £22m in 2011 with The Homes and Communities Agency funding £20m of the cost and One North East and Sunderland City Council funding £1m each.

Several redevelopment plans, including a new Council headquarters, currently in the works on the site.

In response to the travellers’ presence, a Council spokesperson said: “City Council officers have spoken to these travellers and the council is taking the appropriate legal and enforcement action.”

Groups of travellers have been spotted in several areas across the region during lockdown, including one in South Shields last month.

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