Travellers' camp is your problem, centre told - Cambridgeshire

Travellers have set up camp at a village leisure centre – and the facility’s bosses have been told that it is their responsibility to move them on.

Three caravans and numerous trucks have moved on to a corner of the sports fields at Littleport Leisure Centre without permission.

The Travellers arrived at the site and set up camp around three weeks ago.

Andy Rutterford, manager of the Camel Road leisure centre, said he had been told it was the centre’s responsibility to move them on.

He said: “The police, the district council’s Traveller liaison officer and the parish council have all been out but we’ve been told it is our responsibility because they are on our land.

“We’re disgusted. We can’t really afford to pay for bailiffs to come out. They’ve been here for three weeks now. They’re not causing any huge problems apart from driving their vehicles across our sports pitches, which is a pain.

“We just can’t believe nobody is willing to help us.”

Littleport Parish Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council and the police all say it is not their responsibility to move the Travellers on, as they are on private land.

A spokesman for the district council said: “We have given advice to help the leisure centre and parish council.

“Because the Travellers have parked on private land, it is not our responsibility. Councils only get involved when they are on public land, such as highways.”