Two Traveller camps ordered to move on from Fenton and Chesterton - Staffordshire

From the Sentinel

POLICE have been called upon to evict groups of Travellers at two separate sites.

Business owners at the Regina Industries Site, in Chesterton, called police after 13 caravans pulled on to their factory car park

Directors at the plastics and glassware factory were dismayed when the Travellers first arrived on Monday.

The next day up to 30 other Travellers arrived at a site near to Fenton Manor Sports Complex.

Now Staffordshire police are working with Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Newcastle Borough Council to have the unwanted guests moved on.

Scott Bradbury, aged 41, told how the factory, where his in-laws are employed, had come under siege by the travelling group.

The former policeman said: "The factory had been closed for a couple of weeks for holiday when one of our directors saw a load of Travellers coming on site with caravans.

"It is very worrying.

"I know we have tried to approach them, but it is no good so the police were called."

Officers issued Travellers with a public order notice on Wednesday to try and get them to move on.

Chief Inspector Neil Hulme said: "Police have been working together with Newcastle Borough Council to monitor the situation.

"The landowner applied for a court order to ensure the site is vacated as soon as possible. However, using powers under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, police have ordered the Travellers to vacate the land."

Mr Bradbury added: "There has been excretion on the car park and men dropping their trousers to use it as a toilet.

"It seems they have no regard for anybody else and it has been absolutely horrendous for the family."

A second site is also being monitored after Travellers set up camp on fields close to Fenton Manor Sports Complex on City Road.

Officers at Stoke-on-Trent city council have been in talks with the group and should obtain a court order next week.

Mike Judd, aged 43, of Vivian Road, Fenton noticed the group on Tuesday.

He said: " They do this quite often because I have seen caravans here before. I heard they are here for a wedding.

"It is not an appropriate place for them to stop and I know they have put extra security on."

Mr Judd, who teaches a martial arts class at the centre, added: "I can understand why some people might feel intimidated by them being there."

The city council currently provides rented space for gypsies and Travellers in Goldenhill.

Vicky Beech, a spokesman for Staffordshire Police, said: "Police are working to monitor the situation.

"The city council has applied for a court order to ensure the site is vacated as soon as possible."