Traveller group told they can stay at former Leeds club - Yorkshire

From the Yorkshire Evening Post

Travellers have pitched up on privately leased land – but have been told they can stay.

Gary Broadley, who is leasing the site of the old Burley Sports Bar, off Willow Road, Burley, from Leeds City Council, has decided to let Travellers with around half a dozen caravans remain on his land as it is not currently being used.

The removal of the Travellers from the site is Mr Broadley’s responsibility due to the terms of the lease with the council.

The same Travellers were evicted from land next to Radio Aire, off Kirkstall Road, earlier this month, before pitching up across the road from Kirkstall Abbey and being threatened with enforced police eviction by the council on Friday.

Mr Broadley told the YEP: “I’ve told them they can stay. I’ve spoken to the boys, they’re here, they exist and we have to deal with it.

“They are not going to tip on the land or foul on the land, they just need somewhere to stay.”

He claims the council have told him that the Travellers can’t stay on the land for more than 28 days or he will have to apply for planning permission – something he would consider doing.

The Burley site has been unused for over two years but has been the subject of several failed planning applications for everything from student accommodation to a supermarket.

When asked about the movement of the Travellers around Burley and Kirkstall, Coun John Illingworth (Lab, Kirkstall) said: “It makes the council look silly.

“It’s unsatisfactory, there is a public health issue about toilets and unacceptable practices in public and I don’t think the council looks too good but we are stuck with somewhat unsatisfactory law.”

A council spokesman said it is aware of the camp but that the leaseholder is responsible for removal, although this could be a “complicated legal procedure”.