Travellers moved on from Gargrave - North Yorkshire

From the Craven Herald and Pioneer

Travellers who threatened to hamper jubilee celebrations in Gargrave this weekend have been moved on.

The parish council went down the legal route for the first time and employed bailiffs to evict the travellers from Low Green where they set up camp on Friday.

Police intervened on Monday evening to calm the situation between officials of the court and Travellers before being given assurances that the families would move on.

Police received several complaints between Friday and Monday about noise, an alleged assault, cruelty to animals and people defecating in the river.

There was also an incident on Monday involving a security guard at Systagenix, on the outskirts of the village, and a man believed to be a traveller.

Police say the security guard approached the man, who was on the site, and restrained him before escorting him off the premises.

Coun Janet Turner, chairman of Gargrave Parish Council, said it was impossible to know whether more travellers would turn up in the village before the weekend.

She said a small group of Travellers with vans and several horses had turned up last week and had removed posts and large stones to get access onto Low Green.

Their presence had threatened some of the family themed events, organised to celebrate the Queens Diamond jubilee including the children’s sports on Low Green on Tuesday .

She said residents had been out clearing the green of horse manure since the departure of several families at around 8pm on Monday, Craven District Council’s environment officers had also been requested to check the site following reports of people defecating outside.

Coun Turner added that the council had no problem with the traditional “bow-top” caravans who generally just stayed overnight before moving on.

Last year, the council took steps to stop the travellers from pitching up in the village on their way to the annual Appleby Fair in Cumbria.

The Travellers, who had been stopping off in the village for decades, had been the source of increasing complaints, with many staying longer than the original overnight stay.

Following well attended public meetings, the council decided to put up wooden posts around the greens and to announce on the Eden Valley District Council website that travellers were no longer welcome.

In addition, it was decided to put up signs outlining the council’s intention to trigger bylaws and order Travellers off the land, which it owns.