Defiant Travellers stay put near Blackburn pub - Lancashire

From the Citizen

TRAVELLERS have been camped near a Blackburn pub for five days despite being asked to move on.

Four caravans arrived on the car park of the Aqueduct Inn, in Bolton road, in the Ewood area of the town, on Thursday, but moved on to land owned by Blackburn with Darwen council when they were asked to leave.

A bailiff has visited the site, but did not have the power to make the Travellers leave without a court order.

Insp Des Barr, from Lancashire Police’s eastern division, said: “We received a call on Thursday (July 4) informing us that four caravans had moved on to the carpark of the Aqueduct Inn.

“On Tuesday (July 9) they moved on to local authority land so it is not down to them to ask them to leave.

“It usually takes a couple of weeks because they have to get a court order.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council yesterday said it was aware of the travellers and was pursuing action to move them along.

Travellers who had set up camp in Shaftesbury Avenue, in Great Harwood were forced to leave when they were threatened with eviction just under three weeks ago.

And the owners of six caravans parked on a pay- and-display car park near Canterbury Street in Blackburn Centre, despite being served notice to leave.

They moved on several days later.