Court action sought to evict ‘illegal’ Travellers from Deeside Leisure Centre - Flintshire

From the Flintshire Chronicle

COUNCIL bosses are making a legal bid to evict Travellers ‘illegally’ camped on the car park of Deeside Leisure Centre.

Half a dozen caravans pitched up at the rear the venue in Queensferry, and Flintshire County Council chiefs want court action to kick them off.

It is not known when the new arrivals moved onto the land, but staff and the public spotted them on Saturday.

Deeside councillor Bernie Attridge said the council was failing to provide enough pitches for Gypsies and Travellers.

He said he had already been calling for the 30 pitches at Riverside Caravan Park in Queensferry to be extended by ‘70 or 80’, with facilities in place so any new groups could be moved straight onto them.

Cllr Attridge claims the authority could now face an ‘expensive and lengthy’ legal battle to seek an injunction to move the Travellers on if they don’t go voluntarily.

He said Flintshire County Council cannot ‘bury its head in the sand’ over the issue.

But deputy council leader Tony Sharps hit back, saying the official Queensferry site could not be extended because it is near the Aston Hill improvements.

He also said the authority had already been trying to find extra space for new Travellers.

“We have been on the case for some time,” he said.

“Talks have been going on with the Welsh Assembly Government as regards new access in the Queensferry area.

“It’s just unfortunate that they have decided to trespass next to the finest leisure centre in the UK.”

A council spokesman said: “An application has been made to the courts for the repossession of the area of land at Deeside Leisure Centre which is currently being occupied illegally.