Travellers move on to land at ex-store - Shropshire

From the Newport Advertiser

TRAVELLERS in about eight vehicles have moved on to disused land in Newport.

Police visited the former Focus DIY store in Audley Avenue on Tuesday morning at about 11.30am.

The Travellers arrived at about 9pm on Monday night and set up camp behind the large unit, which closed down last year.

A police spokeswoman said: “Police visited the site at 11.30am and spoke to the people there from a liaison point of view.

“It’s up to the landowner if they want to then move them on. Details were taken for about eight vehicles.”

Police visited the site again throughout the day on Wednesday.

Witnesses said there was a large police presence when the Travellers first arrived.

One man, who did not want to be named, said: “There was a lot of police activity. There’s already a lot of rubbish around the area.”

Businesses at Audley Avenue Industrial Estate, including Ableworld and Rae Valley Tractors, said they had not had any problems.

Another group of Travellers settled at Chetwynd Grange in Edgmond earlier this month with permission of farmer William Shufflebotham. They left earlier this week.