Travellers move on to Foxhills industrial estate in Scunthorpe - Lincolnshire

From the Scunthorpe Telegraph

AROUND 40 caravans occupied by Travellers have pitched up on an industrial estate.

The Travellers are living off land on Clayfield Road on the Foxhills Industrial Estate in Scunthorpe – in the car park of the former HES Group building. The Travellers are believed to have arrived last Saturday, (March 9).

One of the Travellers on the site, who did not wish to be named, said: "We will be leaving on Sunday."

A worker on the estate said he had seen the Travellers arrive.

The source, who did not wish to be named, said: "Around 15 caravans arrived and they set up site across the road from where they are now.

"All the caravans looked virtually brand new.

"They then moved across both sites, but they have all gone onto the other site now.

"They have left their gas bottles and all their rubbish on the site."

Joseph Jones, a spokesman for the Gypsy Council – which campaigns on behalf of Gypsies and Travellers – said local authorities should set up regulated campsites for Travellers.

He said: "Some years ago, there was a lot of consultation with the Government and various local authorities across the country.

"It was agreed that a number of camping sites would be the solution, which would also fit in the whole system of regulating where Travellers should be.

"A lot of councillors disagree with this, as it is not popular and is not a vote winner.

"They prefer to ignore the problem than do something about it. The local authority would then know where they are going to be in the area.

"They could go down and see how long they are staying and provide skips to put rubbish, water and the basics people need to live.

"People don't realise that six-wheeled vehicles cannot be taken into a dump or tip, so they cannot get rid of their rubbish."

Councillor Rob Waltham, cabinet member for people at North Lincolnshire Council, said: "We are aware of the situation with the site.

"The council's job is to ensure that everybody is in accordance with the law.

"The law clearly states that before undertaking residence in any site, planning permission and other statutory undertakings have to be carried out.

"This is an issue of fairness for everybody.

"If it is fair that someone has to get planning permission if they build on a plot of land, it is right that the Travellers need to do that too.

"The law says you need to apply for planning and other issues."

The land is owned by a firm called PPH.

The company, which has declined to comment, has so far taken no action to have the Travellers removed.