Travellers cost Kirklees Council £150k in a year - Yorkshire

From the Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Travellers cost Kirklees Council £150,000 in just 12 months, it has been revealed.

Now a councillor is calling on the authority to do more to tighten up security at vulnerable sites.

The figure, revealed at an area committee meeting, includes eviction and legal fees, clean-up costs and site security works.

Lindley Liberal Democrat Clr Cahal Burke, backed by his party, has submitted a motion calling on Kirklees Council to do more to prevent illegal occupation of council sites.

Clr Burke said: “This summer we’ve had camps at sites across Lindley and other parts of the borough which have caused upset and distress for many people, as well as costing the council a great deal of money it cannot afford.

“As a Liberal I am totally in favour of people living their lives as they choose as long as they obey the law and their actions don’t impact negatively on anyone else.

“But this is not the case in terms of the Travellers who have arrived in Kirklees this last few months.

“Apart from the cost of the eviction, the public are being asked to pay for criminal damage, clearance of waste and fly-tipping and security improvements to stop re-entry.

“These actions are not acceptable from anyone, regardless of lifestyle choice, so it is reasonable for the council to do all it can to prevent it happening again as it would with any other situation.”

The motion calls on the council to recognise Travellers’ rights but asks the authority to spend some of the £150,000 to improve security of council sites.

Clr Burke added: “What we’re suggesting is that the council looks to invest some of that money proactively to tighten up security at vulnerable sites so Travellers can’t get on to the land in the first place allowing the council to make savings on legal and clearance costs in the future.”

There are no recognised Traveller sites in the borough, and plans by Wakefield Council to build a Traveller site in Owl Lane on the Dewsbury-Ossett border, were abandoned in 2010 following controversy.

So far this year Travellers have moved onto Reinwood Recreation Ground twice, the YMCA playing fields at Salendine Nook and at Heatherleigh Recreation Ground on Lindley Moor Road.

The Spen Valley has had camps appear at Moorend Rec, Mill Bridge Recreation, Crown Street Car Park, Miry Lane Recreation and Dale Lane Park.

The Spen Area Committee has allocated £15,000 to improve security such sites.

The motion is due to be discussed at a full meeting of Kirklees Council on September 11.