'Welsh Government took too long to take action on Travellers'

From the South Wales Evening Post

ASSEMBLY Member Peter Black has criticised the Welsh Government for "wasting time" over the illegal Travellers' site next to Amazon's warehouse.

Last month around 15 caravans moved on to land — owned by the Welsh Government — next to internet giant's warehouse in Jersey Marine.

The Welsh Government will go to court this Friday in an attempt to get a Possession Order against the Travellers — the start of a process which could see them moved on.

But Mr Black, AM for South Wales West, has accused the Welsh Government of dragging their feet over the site.

He said: "I am pleased the Welsh Government is going to court at last but I am concerned it has taken so long to do so.

"There has been a big impact on businesses in the area.

"It seems the Government should have acted more quickly in getting action to remove them from the encampment, they ummed and ahhed at the beginning.

"This has never been a suitable site for them, there are no facilities there.

"They could have taken action straight away — wasting five or six weeks is just too long."

Representatives from the Welsh Government will be at the Swansea Civil Justice Centre on Friday in a bid to obtain a Possession Order against the travellers.

If the order is granted by the court, then the travellers will be given a set period of time, usually 28 days, to leave the land.

If they do not leave in the given time period, the Government will then be able to ask the court to evict them.

A Welsh Government spokesman said: "We have progressed action in line with Welsh Government protocols and guidelines.

"The claim for a Possession Order will be heard by Swansea County Court on Friday."

Hughie Smith, president of the Gypsy Council, previously said the Travellers may be just passing through and would soon move on

"At the present time what we have suggested to Neath Port Talbot Council is these families may have permanent plots and perhaps are passing through," he said.

"I don't think they will be there for very long. They are just passing through."