Travellers who set up camp at West Derby Golf Club moved on by police - Merseyside

From the Liverpool Echo

TRAVELLERS who set up camp at West Derby golf club were moved on by police this afternoon.

Three caravans and three cars arrived at the club's car park last night at around 8.30pm.

The management of the club closed the gates of the car park and called police as the Travellers refused to move.

This morning golf club managers, police officers and representatives from Liverpool City Council were locked in talks about how to remove them from the club, in Yew Tree Lane.

Merseyside Police said the group agreed to leave after a formal request was made by the owner of the land.

This morning four police cars were parked outside the car park while security guards from the club stood guard at the gates.

Children could be seen riding their bikes in the car park.

Golf club staff said the gates of the car park had been locked while negotiations continued and described the group as "confrontational". They said they believed the Travellers were part of a larger community which had travelled from the south of England.

One neighbour said: "The first we knew of something happening was last night when the police arrived. People started saying there were Travellers here and they wouldn't leave.

"I saw some people coming and going last night to try to talk to them and then more police cars came this morning."

He said the group did not "seem to be in a rush to move on".

Merseyside Police said officers were called in on Monday night after the golf club manager reported a gathering of a number of unknown vehicles in the car park.