Travellers cut lock to get on Odsal rugby club's pitches - Yorkshire

From the Telegraph and Argus

Bradford Council has been urged to take swift action after a group of Travellers descended on a rugby club and set up camp after cutting through locks to gain access.

The Travellers’ vehicles are at Odsal Sedbergh Rugby Club in Huddersfield Road after arriving on Monday afternoon, having probably been the same ones moved on from Moorend Recreation Ground in Cleckheaton earlier in the day.

And the Travellers’ arrival could end up scuppering the club’s junior players from practice sessions before an important match against rivals Sherburn Bears on Sunday morning.

Glenn Burness, of Cleckheaton Road, said he had picked his grandchildren up from school yesterday afternoon and got home to find the Travellers looking to access the site. He tried to manoeuvre his car in front of them to stop them getting through the bolted gate, as did a van driver, but they were blocked by the Travellers who stood in front of their vehicles.

Mr Burness told the Telegraph & Argus today that when he told the Travellers to move on he was pulled away by one of the female Travellers but she swiftly let go when he threatened to tell police he had been assaulted.

In the meantime, big tailbacks built up along Cleckheaton Road before six police vehicles arrived to ease the situation.

According to Mr Burness, the junior rugby teams who play there have been told by police to take away all their equipment as well items from the changing rooms and cafe.

Mr Burness, a caravan owner himself, said: “What I can’t understand is if I failed to pay when away with my caravan, or was late leaving a site, I would be fined or the police would be called to move me on.

“I’m led to believe it will take seven days before the Council can move them on.”

He said this is the fourth time it has happened.

Gates had been installed but a man cut through the lock with a pair of yellow bolt cutters – a description of the man was given to police but they have not returned to take a statement from Mr Burness and his wife.

Police confirmed they were called at 3.43pm to a group of Travellers who had cut through a lock at the rugby club. At the time there were five caravans and six vehicles.

Carol Regan, of the club, said: “If I was to park up in front of the town hall I’d be moved on within half an hour. They must be made to abide by the same rules and regulations as the rest of us.

“This really is not fair on the kids. They were supposed to have training tonight and on Thursday night on those fields and have a match on Sunday.”

Today, a Council spokesman said it hoped to serve the Travellers with a court order today to vacate the area.