‘Intimidated’ Traveller family has moved sites - Derbyshire

From the Matlock Mercury

A family of Travellers has moved away from a council–agreed site because they felt ‘intimidated’.

The Travellers moved onto a site off Old Station Close, Rowsley, at the end of September in agreement with Derbyshire Dales District Council, however left at the weekend to move back to Bakewell Showground, a site they occupied last year.

Siobhan Spencer, of the Derbyshire Gypsy Liaison Group (DGLG), said the family had move because they felt ‘intimidated’.

She said: “Somebody threw a stone over the fence into the window of a Transit van.”

Derbyshire police confirmed that after being contacted by the DGLG they had inspected a van at the Rowsley site on October 7, but had not been able to find evidence of criminal activity.

Siobhan added that last weekend the family had reported to her that someone in a 4x4 had been shining its headlights at them.

A council spokesman said: “As is always the case, we will be communicating with the family with a view to them returning to the approved site, for which planning consent is in place for a maximum nine months from the first day of occupation.”

A planning application is likely to be submitted soon for a potential permanent site for the family at Homesford wood yard.