Travellers move on to Darwen town centre car park - Lancashire

From the Lancashire Telegraph

TRAVELLERS have moved on to a car park close to Darwen town centre.

The caravans were first spotted in Edward Street, behind The Brookside Hair and Wellbeing Centre, earlier this week.

Their arrival sparked an angry debate in the Darwen Town Council chamber on Tuesday, when one councillor urged his colleagues to send a message that they would not tolerate Travellers in Darwen.

It is the fourth site used by Travellers in a short space of time, with caravans spotted on the car park between South Street and Atlas Road, as well as the car parks at the Railway Station and Darwen Youth Centre in Knott Street.

Sudell councillor Paul Browne suggested a letter be sent to Blackburn with Darwen Council by Darwen Town Council, expressing anger at Travellers using the town.

Coun Browne said: “I would like this council to send a letter to the borough saying we are disgusted at the slow process of getting rid of the Travellers in Darwen.

“If we were to park a caravan somewhere like that we would be moved on very quickly.

“We need to show the people of Darwen we are fed up with Travellers moving into our town.”

Marsh House councillor Frank Connor said he didn’t see any reason to criticise the council.

He said: “They have had lots of cases recently, particularly in Blackburn, so I would not necessarily criticise the council.”

Town council mayor Eileen Entwistle said there was usually a good reason for the Travellers being there.

She said: “When they were at the railway station I was told it was because there was a heavily pregnant woman.

“There is always a reason and I believe we are looking for more sites for the Travellers.”

The councillors agreed that, although they would not send a letter to the borough council, they would lobby the council to remove Travellers at the earliest opportunity after pitching up in the town.