Travellers on Rossett site given stark ultimatum - Wrexham

From the Leader

TRAVELLERS have been given a stark message – get off the land or go to prison.

It has emerged one caravan remains at a site in Rossett, despite a court order for the people in it to move on.

A plot of land on Daisy Lane, Parkside, has been used by Travellers for the last four to five years.

During that time the occupants have been fighting eviction from the small five-plot yard and have been living there unauthorised after failing to get planning consent.

But last year an order was made giving 12 months for the site, owned by Traveller Owen Lee, to be cleared.

That time is now up, but one occupied caravan remains past the deadline, meaning the occupants may face prison.

Rossett Cllr Hugh Jones said: “There was a High Court order for the site to be vacated by July 18 and all the structures to be removed by August 18.

“They were given until February next year to get rid of the septic tank and drainage and return the site to agricultural use.

“They failed to comply with the first part of that order.

“There is one family and two caravans still on the site. Only one of the caravans is occupied, but they were required to move all of the caravans by July 18.”

“The judge attached a penal notice to the order saying that if they did not comply they would be in contempt of court and liable to be sent to prison.

“The council is in the process of applying for that notice to be activated, so it’s either go to prison or move off the site. It’s that simple.”

He said the site was owned by a member of the travelling community, “but not necessarily the people living there”.

A local resident who did not want to be identified said: “There have been caravans there coming and going over the last four years. Sometimes it’s heaving, there have been up to 14 caravans.

“Most have filtered away over the last couple of weeks but there is still one family there, and the odd one or two have appeared now and again. There’s been speed boats, horse boxes, all kind of things.”

A spokesman for Wrexham Council said: “We can confirm an injunction was granted for the Rossett site. Residents had until July 18 to remove all caravans and mobile homes. One family continues to reside on site and we are currently seeking legal advice.”

No one at the site was available for comment at the time of going to press.