Travellers in Prudhoe are asked to leave peacefully - Nothumberland

From the Hexham Courant

TRAVELLERS who set up camp on the edge of a tourism hotspot in Prudhoe have been asked to leave.

At least two caravans and associated vehicles parked up on the north side of the railway line, near Prudhoe Station, on Sunday afternoon, on land which is part of the Tyne Riverside Country Park.

Police were alerted to the Travellers by a concerned resident, while Northumberland County Council’s Gypsy and Traveller liaison officer has visited the site to speak to the small number of adults believed to be occupying the caravans.

Councillors in Prudhoe have assured residents that everything is being done to move the Travellers on.

Coun. Neil Bradbury, Northumberland County Council representative for Prudhoe West, said: “We have had the police down there but obviously it is a council issue.

“They will be served a notice to leave and hopefully the Travellers will move on peacefully. They are trespassing.”

Coun. Bradbury said the location was away from residential properties, and as a result the effect on local people was minimal.

However, he raised concerns about the impact on visitors and business, after the Cafe @ Prudhoe Riverside opened at the riverside country park’s visitor centre this summer.

He added: “They are close to a car park where there has been a very successful free parking trial in recent times, which has led to an increase in the amount of people parking there for recreation.

“The concern is that the presence of Travellers will put people off. I recognise that we have got to work with the Travellers, but also be quite firm when they go to inappropriate places.”

It is not the first time unexpected visitors have arrived in Prudhoe. Three years ago, Coun. Bradbury was involved in a scheme to dig a trench and build a fence at land on Princess Way, to keep Travellers out.

Coun. Bradbury added: “We have had problems in the past, but we hope this is just a one-off. I am confident this is being handled in an appropriate manner and I will monitor the situation.”

Coun. Bradbury said the county council was working to develop a designated site for Travellers in South-East Northumberland.

He explained: “One of the problems with travellers can be when they say they have nowhere else to go. In terms of Gypsy management we are working on establishing a transit camp elsewhere in the county.”

A Northumberland County Council spokesman said: “The council is working with the landowners, the police and other partner agencies in relation to this unauthorised encampment.

“Our Gypsy and Traveller liaison officer has visited the site to collect information from the Travellers and establish any welfare needs, and we will be monitoring and visiting the site regularly.”

A spokesman for the riverside country park visitor centre said it had not been affected by the Travellers, who were located “some distance away.”