Anger as Gypsy convoy returns to land near Apedale Community Country Park - Staffordshire

From the Sentinel

A CONVOY of Gypsy caravans has set up camp less than a mile away from a tourist attraction they were forced to move away from just two weeks ago.

Residents living near Apedale Community Country Park in Holditch, Chesterton, have had to repeatedly deal with the unwelcome visitors pitching up in the area over the years.

In February The Sentinel reported how more than 30 Travellers' caravans arrived near the entrance within the park and refused to budge.

Now, just weeks after court action was taken to force the Travellers to move on, caravans have returned to a piece of land just metres from the entrance to the Loomer Road attraction.

Now council chiefs are taking legal action yet again to move the convoy along.

Holditch councillor Michael Clarke said: "The Travellers arrived five days ago and over the last few days more and more turned up.

"It's getting beyond a joke. It's costing the authority thousands of pounds clearing up after them and then they return a few weeks later. We have been dealing with this for the past four years.

"Apedale Country Park is a bit of a gem and people can't get in.

"There is a cafe trying to survive yet nobody can get in there because the gates have been closed for most of the week.

"It is happening every month, it's constant and it seems to be getting worse. The people in Holditch are sick to the back teeth of it."

The Travellers, who have already started to leave rubbish around the site, are using the football pitch to graze their horses.

Mr Clarke added: "They problem is that they leave such a mess. They leave rubbish, gas canisters and even faeces.

"I have got every sympathy for people travelling who want to find work but when they cause so many problems and cost the taxpayer so much money something has to be done to stop them. Its worrying to think of how much is paid out in the whole of Staffordshire."

A spokesman for the country park said: "The Travellers are not currently on our land. They were a few weeks ago, they left a lot of rubbish and we had to have a big clean up.

"We have shut the gate at the entrance of Loomer Road to vehicles but pedestrians can still get onto the site and cars can use other entrances such as Blackbank Road." Jane Malkin, aged 31, of Wolstanton Road, Chesterton said: "I think it is disgusting that they can come to such a beautiful place and show no respect.

"It was bad enough last time but for them to return and to stop so close so soon after being forced off is ridiculous."

A Staffordshire County Council spokesman said: "A court hearing will take place on Thursday at Stoke-on-Trent County Court where we will apply for a warrant to move them on."