From Kilkenny People
THE need for urgent intervention by Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan in the ongoing saga of St Catherine’s Halting Site off the Circular Road in the city has been made by Cllr Andrew McGuinness.
“Even if it is done on a phased basis, Minister Hogan must demonstrate his concern for these Travellers by making some kind of a commitment,” the Fianna Fail local representative said in response to growing concerns over the atrocious living conditions at the site.
“I believe that St Catherine’s Halting Site is the worst accommodation in Kilkenny and probably the country. I am not happy with Kilkenny County Council’s progress on the refurbishment project and I am calling on them to prioritise the project as a matter of urgency as living conditions are third world and simply not humane,” he said.
He has also asked for a progress report on the refurbishment of the halting site to be presented to all future meetings of the Travellers Accommodation Consultative Committee until the project is complete.
He also wants the committee to hold a full meeting on site at St Catherine’s and that members carry out a full investigation of the site.
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
Gypsies spark anger after moving on to land in Blackheath - Birmingham
From the Birmingham Mail
A LEADING councillor has vowed to do all in her power to evict an illegal Traveller camp set up near the heart of a Sandwell town.
And Mary Docker has given extremely short shrift to allegations by the Gypsies that they have received ‘heavy-handed’ treatment after taking over the waste land.
Six caravans moved on to the local authority site, near Blackheath Trading Estate, on Sunday night.
Spokesman for the travellers Stephen Lockley, 33, told the Birmingham Mail they intended to stop for four or five days.
Cllr Docker, however, intends to ensure the unwelcome invasion is as brief as possible.
“I have no sympathy,” she said.
“These incidents have happened in Blackheath in the past and I have done everything in my power to have them removed for the benefit of residents and shopkeepers.
“They say there are not enough (legal) sites, but that does not give them the right to move in where they want.”
She added the Travellers can be moved on within days once an order has been made to evict them.
And Cllr Docker backed police action. “I am entirely confident the police would act within their remit to take appropriate action. “These people are breaking the law, after all.”
Mr Lockley, who moved from a Coventry site on to the land with wife Sheila and their two young children, described the situation as stressful.
Three police cars ‘welcomed’ the visitors shortly after their arrival, said Mr Lockley.
He added: “We’re not here by choice – we’ve got no option. We keep on getting moved on and it’s affecting the kids’ education.
“This is council land and it is up to the council to issue court proceedings. We are being treated like scum.”
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said the force had no record on file of police visiting the illegal camp and interviewing caravan owners
A LEADING councillor has vowed to do all in her power to evict an illegal Traveller camp set up near the heart of a Sandwell town.
And Mary Docker has given extremely short shrift to allegations by the Gypsies that they have received ‘heavy-handed’ treatment after taking over the waste land.
Six caravans moved on to the local authority site, near Blackheath Trading Estate, on Sunday night.
Spokesman for the travellers Stephen Lockley, 33, told the Birmingham Mail they intended to stop for four or five days.
Cllr Docker, however, intends to ensure the unwelcome invasion is as brief as possible.
“I have no sympathy,” she said.
“These incidents have happened in Blackheath in the past and I have done everything in my power to have them removed for the benefit of residents and shopkeepers.
“They say there are not enough (legal) sites, but that does not give them the right to move in where they want.”
She added the Travellers can be moved on within days once an order has been made to evict them.
And Cllr Docker backed police action. “I am entirely confident the police would act within their remit to take appropriate action. “These people are breaking the law, after all.”
Mr Lockley, who moved from a Coventry site on to the land with wife Sheila and their two young children, described the situation as stressful.
Three police cars ‘welcomed’ the visitors shortly after their arrival, said Mr Lockley.
He added: “We’re not here by choice – we’ve got no option. We keep on getting moved on and it’s affecting the kids’ education.
“This is council land and it is up to the council to issue court proceedings. We are being treated like scum.”
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said the force had no record on file of police visiting the illegal camp and interviewing caravan owners
Meeting to be held over Travellers - Lancashire
From the Lancashire Evening Post
Travellers who moved off private land in Preston have pitched up a few miles away in Walton-le-Dale.
Around half a dozen caravans, with 12 adults and eight children, parked up on a patch of privately-owned land off Duddle Lane in Walton-le-Dale, near to the junction with Chorley Road.
It is understood they relocated to the area on Monday after moving on from private land near the retail area off Queen Street in Avenham, where they had been staying for more than a week.
A meeting was due to be held on Tuesday afternoon between the Travellers, the Walton-le-Dale landowner, South Ribble Council, a Traveller liaison officer from Lancashire County Council and Lancashire police.
The matter was reported to the police on Monday.
However, because the caravans are on private land, the police and local councils are limited in what action they can take to move them on, with responsibility for the ground falling to the landowner.
The borough council had said it facilitated the meeting and will assist with waste removal from the site if necessary.
Walton-le-Dale Coun Mike Nelson said: “It is a piece of land behind a nursing home which I think was down for development.
“The council is looking into it and all the agencies are involved.
“We’ve never had any problems here before.”
The patch of land used to have a bungalow on it but it has since been cleared.
Another group of Travellers upset business owners in Farington in Leyland last month.
A dozen caravans pitched up on a piece of land near the entrance to the Centurion Industrial Estate on April 15.
That attracted complaints from firms that it was making access difficult for delivery drivers.
The Travellers left within a week.
Travellers who moved off private land in Preston have pitched up a few miles away in Walton-le-Dale.
Around half a dozen caravans, with 12 adults and eight children, parked up on a patch of privately-owned land off Duddle Lane in Walton-le-Dale, near to the junction with Chorley Road.
It is understood they relocated to the area on Monday after moving on from private land near the retail area off Queen Street in Avenham, where they had been staying for more than a week.
A meeting was due to be held on Tuesday afternoon between the Travellers, the Walton-le-Dale landowner, South Ribble Council, a Traveller liaison officer from Lancashire County Council and Lancashire police.
The matter was reported to the police on Monday.
However, because the caravans are on private land, the police and local councils are limited in what action they can take to move them on, with responsibility for the ground falling to the landowner.
The borough council had said it facilitated the meeting and will assist with waste removal from the site if necessary.
Walton-le-Dale Coun Mike Nelson said: “It is a piece of land behind a nursing home which I think was down for development.
“The council is looking into it and all the agencies are involved.
“We’ve never had any problems here before.”
The patch of land used to have a bungalow on it but it has since been cleared.
Another group of Travellers upset business owners in Farington in Leyland last month.
A dozen caravans pitched up on a piece of land near the entrance to the Centurion Industrial Estate on April 15.
That attracted complaints from firms that it was making access difficult for delivery drivers.
The Travellers left within a week.
Campaign to remove Travellers from Halesowen site underway - West Midlands
From the Halesowen News
IRATE residents, councillors and campaigners have moved quickly after Travellers pitched up a site in Halesowen.
Caravans were first seen on a disused part of the Fairfield Park Industrial estate on Sunday and the police and Dudley Council are now monitoring the site to ensure no damage occurs.
The group moved onto the Langtree site on Cakemore Road on Sunday, prompting calls from neighbouring residents for action to move them.
Legal proceedings have already been started to move the Travellers from the site in a bid to prevent the problem escalating.
Conservative candidate for Halesowen North, Mike Wood, said: “When local residents contacted us to say that a group of Travellers had moved onto the industrial estate, we immediately made sure that everything possible was being done to keep the area secure and to move the group on.
“I am delighted by the fast and effective action that the council, the police and the site’s owners Langtree have taken since we raised the problem, and we are hopeful that the legal proceedings will mean that the group is moved on by the weekend.”
Halesowen North Conservative councillor Jeff Hill added: “Legally it is the responsibility of land owners to get the Travellers to move and Langtree are doing everything they can to get the group off their land as quickly as they can.
“I have asked Council officers to make sure that they check nearby council owned open spaces to ensure they are secure, and will not be the group's next destination. “ Two years ago a larger group of Travellers set up camp on the same site but were forced to move after action by the owners and Dudley Council.
IRATE residents, councillors and campaigners have moved quickly after Travellers pitched up a site in Halesowen.
Caravans were first seen on a disused part of the Fairfield Park Industrial estate on Sunday and the police and Dudley Council are now monitoring the site to ensure no damage occurs.
The group moved onto the Langtree site on Cakemore Road on Sunday, prompting calls from neighbouring residents for action to move them.
Legal proceedings have already been started to move the Travellers from the site in a bid to prevent the problem escalating.
Conservative candidate for Halesowen North, Mike Wood, said: “When local residents contacted us to say that a group of Travellers had moved onto the industrial estate, we immediately made sure that everything possible was being done to keep the area secure and to move the group on.
“I am delighted by the fast and effective action that the council, the police and the site’s owners Langtree have taken since we raised the problem, and we are hopeful that the legal proceedings will mean that the group is moved on by the weekend.”
Halesowen North Conservative councillor Jeff Hill added: “Legally it is the responsibility of land owners to get the Travellers to move and Langtree are doing everything they can to get the group off their land as quickly as they can.
“I have asked Council officers to make sure that they check nearby council owned open spaces to ensure they are secure, and will not be the group's next destination. “ Two years ago a larger group of Travellers set up camp on the same site but were forced to move after action by the owners and Dudley Council.
Eviction order sought for Travellers at Branksome Chine - Dorset
From the Daily Echo
BOROUGH of Poole officials were due in court this morning to secure an eviction order for an illegal Traveller encampment at Branksome Chine.
A number of caravans remained at the Beach Road car park yesterday.
James Norman, regulatory team manager at Borough of Poole, said: “We are seeking an eviction order from the courts and we will be serving this order on the same day.”
The Travellers, who moved in two weeks ago, will have 24 hours to vacate if an eviction order is served.
BOROUGH of Poole officials were due in court this morning to secure an eviction order for an illegal Traveller encampment at Branksome Chine.
A number of caravans remained at the Beach Road car park yesterday.
James Norman, regulatory team manager at Borough of Poole, said: “We are seeking an eviction order from the courts and we will be serving this order on the same day.”
The Travellers, who moved in two weeks ago, will have 24 hours to vacate if an eviction order is served.
Superdump turned into new Gypsy plot - Oxford
From the Oxford Mail
THE expansion of a Travellers site in Oxford is set to be completed in the next few months.
Building work is nearly finished on the creation of nine new plots at Redbridge Hollow.
The £1.86m expansion of the Traveller site is being developed in the spot previously dubbed the ‘superdump’, an area where flytippers left 3,000 tonnes of rubbish over two decades.
Gary Brewer, manager of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Gypsy and Traveller service, yesterday told Oxfordshire county councillors work on the land adjoining the current Redbridge Travellers site was being carried out.
Eight new plots with amenity blocks plus an extra facility for a family with a severely disabled child are being created.
Speaking at the Oxfordshire County Council safer and stronger communities scrutiny committee yesterday, Mr Brewer said the building work was being financed by a central government grant.
The buildings are intended to be used as kitchen or day rooms. They consist of one room containing cupboards, plug sockets and a sink and also have separate toilets and shower rooms.
Mr Brewer told the committee: “The land is worthless. No-one wants it – we did look at giving it to a business.
“So we thought, okay, this site is overcrowded, let’s build additional plots.”
He said families could travel for up to six months of the year and then return to the site as long as they kept the county council aware of their plans.
The committee was shown photographs of the structures being built in contrast to the piles of fly-tipped rubbish that had accumulated there.
In 2008 the so-called ‘superdump’ covered an area of 926sq m. The mountain of waste was removed at a cost of £300,000 in February 2010.
Building work on the blocks started in December last year and is expected to be completed this summer.
In July 2010 the cost of security at the site to prevent further fly tipping was revealed by the Oxford Mail to be £130,000 per year.
Kennington Parish Council chairman Peter Biggs said: “It was a tip before and it is good use of the land to put homes on it.
“The people of Kennington will just shrug their shoulders at the development and get on with their lives.
“We had this put on us all those years ago and people have got used to it.”
THE expansion of a Travellers site in Oxford is set to be completed in the next few months.
Building work is nearly finished on the creation of nine new plots at Redbridge Hollow.
The £1.86m expansion of the Traveller site is being developed in the spot previously dubbed the ‘superdump’, an area where flytippers left 3,000 tonnes of rubbish over two decades.
Gary Brewer, manager of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Gypsy and Traveller service, yesterday told Oxfordshire county councillors work on the land adjoining the current Redbridge Travellers site was being carried out.
Eight new plots with amenity blocks plus an extra facility for a family with a severely disabled child are being created.
Speaking at the Oxfordshire County Council safer and stronger communities scrutiny committee yesterday, Mr Brewer said the building work was being financed by a central government grant.
The buildings are intended to be used as kitchen or day rooms. They consist of one room containing cupboards, plug sockets and a sink and also have separate toilets and shower rooms.
Mr Brewer told the committee: “The land is worthless. No-one wants it – we did look at giving it to a business.
“So we thought, okay, this site is overcrowded, let’s build additional plots.”
He said families could travel for up to six months of the year and then return to the site as long as they kept the county council aware of their plans.
The committee was shown photographs of the structures being built in contrast to the piles of fly-tipped rubbish that had accumulated there.
In 2008 the so-called ‘superdump’ covered an area of 926sq m. The mountain of waste was removed at a cost of £300,000 in February 2010.
Building work on the blocks started in December last year and is expected to be completed this summer.
In July 2010 the cost of security at the site to prevent further fly tipping was revealed by the Oxford Mail to be £130,000 per year.
Kennington Parish Council chairman Peter Biggs said: “It was a tip before and it is good use of the land to put homes on it.
“The people of Kennington will just shrug their shoulders at the development and get on with their lives.
“We had this put on us all those years ago and people have got used to it.”
Huge response to Gypsy site plans - Darlington
From the Northern Echo
COUNCILLORS in two wards near a potential site for Gypsies and Travellers said they have been overwhelmed by the response from local residents against the plans.
Hundreds of opinions about a potential site in Glebe Road, off Salters Lane West, have been submitted to Darlington Borough Council in protest against the plans by councillors in Harrowgate Hill and Haughton West.
Ward members visited people at home, held public meetings and received hundreds of emails and phone calls about the potential site, with concerns raised about over-crowding in local schools, the negative impact on neighbouring housing estates and traffic issues.
The feedback has been gathered by the councillors as part of the consultation process into six locations the council has put forward as possible solutions for Gypsy and traveller sites in the borough over the next 15 years.
The Glebe Road site lies within Harrowgate Hill ward, but borders large parts of Haughton West.
In Harrowgate Hill, concerns centred around the unsuitability of the site, which residents say is prone to flooding, the damage to the amenity value of neighbouring homes and the lack of school places in the area, particularly for older children.
Councillor Gill Cartwright, Conservative member for Harrowgate Hill, said: “The report we sent to the council had 655 signatures on the bottom - the response has been phenomenal. I’ve never known so many people come forward and I think that reflects the level of concern.
“This consultation has caused panic among local residents, in particular those people who have just bought houses on the brand new estate that will border this site. It has caused a great deal of upset and anger.”
The report submitted on behalf of Haughton West by councillors said 113 objections were received, with two people in favour of the development.
Schools, traffic and the loss of a green field site emerged as key issues for people in the ward.
Councillor Nick Wallis, Haughton West ward member, said: “The response to this issue is much bigger than anything we have ever experienced before. This has been a sensitive and unusual consultation but I think the council should have either been more specific about what they were planning for the potential sites, or consulted without naming areas.”
COUNCILLORS in two wards near a potential site for Gypsies and Travellers said they have been overwhelmed by the response from local residents against the plans.
Hundreds of opinions about a potential site in Glebe Road, off Salters Lane West, have been submitted to Darlington Borough Council in protest against the plans by councillors in Harrowgate Hill and Haughton West.
Ward members visited people at home, held public meetings and received hundreds of emails and phone calls about the potential site, with concerns raised about over-crowding in local schools, the negative impact on neighbouring housing estates and traffic issues.
The feedback has been gathered by the councillors as part of the consultation process into six locations the council has put forward as possible solutions for Gypsy and traveller sites in the borough over the next 15 years.
The Glebe Road site lies within Harrowgate Hill ward, but borders large parts of Haughton West.
In Harrowgate Hill, concerns centred around the unsuitability of the site, which residents say is prone to flooding, the damage to the amenity value of neighbouring homes and the lack of school places in the area, particularly for older children.
Councillor Gill Cartwright, Conservative member for Harrowgate Hill, said: “The report we sent to the council had 655 signatures on the bottom - the response has been phenomenal. I’ve never known so many people come forward and I think that reflects the level of concern.
“This consultation has caused panic among local residents, in particular those people who have just bought houses on the brand new estate that will border this site. It has caused a great deal of upset and anger.”
The report submitted on behalf of Haughton West by councillors said 113 objections were received, with two people in favour of the development.
Schools, traffic and the loss of a green field site emerged as key issues for people in the ward.
Councillor Nick Wallis, Haughton West ward member, said: “The response to this issue is much bigger than anything we have ever experienced before. This has been a sensitive and unusual consultation but I think the council should have either been more specific about what they were planning for the potential sites, or consulted without naming areas.”
Travellers back in Titchfield - Hampshire
From the Western Gazette
Less than a week after Travellers moved off a site in Titchfield more have pitched up in a new part of the village.
Several Travellers set up their caravans at the car park by Barry’s Meadow yesterday (April 27) – one week after a travelling encampment pitched up at the recreational ground car park in Mill Lane and moved off the site on Monday.
Fareham Borough Council leader, Councillor Sean Woodward, said the council officers will be going through the same process as before by getting a court order eviction notice.
“This is council owned land so we’ll be going through the exact same procedure as before,” he said.
“Once we’ve been able to go to court to get an order, they will be served with an eviction notice and be asked to move on.
“It’s just appalling. We’ve got 112,000 residents in houses in the borough and they all pay their council tax and shouldn’t have to deal with those who turn up on their land.
“I don’t see why it’s not a criminal offence.”
When Travellers arrived in the borough last year Cllr Woodward spoke to government ministers and Prime Minister David Cameron about the issue and has asked for there to be legislation made to make trespassing illegal.
“It’s an on-going dialogue involving our local members of parliament,” added Cllr Woodward. “I’m chasing it up regularly.
“It’s not just Fareham where it’s a problem. I’m not the only one complaining.
“I’m just fed up that we’re constantly having to spend taxpayer’s money on clearing the sites and cleaning up after them.”
Less than a week after Travellers moved off a site in Titchfield more have pitched up in a new part of the village.
Several Travellers set up their caravans at the car park by Barry’s Meadow yesterday (April 27) – one week after a travelling encampment pitched up at the recreational ground car park in Mill Lane and moved off the site on Monday.
Fareham Borough Council leader, Councillor Sean Woodward, said the council officers will be going through the same process as before by getting a court order eviction notice.
“This is council owned land so we’ll be going through the exact same procedure as before,” he said.
“Once we’ve been able to go to court to get an order, they will be served with an eviction notice and be asked to move on.
“It’s just appalling. We’ve got 112,000 residents in houses in the borough and they all pay their council tax and shouldn’t have to deal with those who turn up on their land.
“I don’t see why it’s not a criminal offence.”
When Travellers arrived in the borough last year Cllr Woodward spoke to government ministers and Prime Minister David Cameron about the issue and has asked for there to be legislation made to make trespassing illegal.
“It’s an on-going dialogue involving our local members of parliament,” added Cllr Woodward. “I’m chasing it up regularly.
“It’s not just Fareham where it’s a problem. I’m not the only one complaining.
“I’m just fed up that we’re constantly having to spend taxpayer’s money on clearing the sites and cleaning up after them.”
Travellers move onto Gomersal playing fields - Yorkshire
From the Spenborough Guardian
TRAVELLERS have moved onto playing fields in Gomersal.
The Travellers are parked illegally on Nibshaw Lane playing fields, off Spen Lane, next to the disused Maccess building.
People living nearby said the Travellers had been causing a disturbance since they moved on to the land on April 12.
One woman, who did not want to be named, said the Travellers’ dogs were attacking people and other dogs.
She said: “The car park at Maccess is full of excrement and urine along with the rubbish from more than 10 caravans.
“I appreciate the council and police have their hands tied by the legalities but where did our rights go, as law-abiding, rent, water rates, council tax paying citizens?
“They are allowed to destroy the football pitch, have dogs who are aggressive and leave two horses on the football pitch. I wonder what rights I would have should I decide to keep two horses on the football pitch?
“My children cannot play out, my neighbours are terrified but the caravans still they are here.
“We are all effectively held to ransom until the Travellers decide to move or are eventually forced out.”
Another woman, who did not want to be named, said she had seen children going into the derelict Maccess building.
She said: “They have been racing their horses up and down the field which has ruined it, and Gomersal Boys Club has not been on the field playing football since they came.
“At 2.30am on Saturday they were beeping their car horns and generally being noisy.”
A Kirklees Council spokesman said: “The council is monitoring the situation and continuing to liaise with the owners of the site, who are responsible for taking action to remove the encampment.”
A spokesman for land owners Castlerock Capital Limited said they hoped to have a court order in place by the end of the week to evict them from the land.
TRAVELLERS have moved onto playing fields in Gomersal.
The Travellers are parked illegally on Nibshaw Lane playing fields, off Spen Lane, next to the disused Maccess building.
People living nearby said the Travellers had been causing a disturbance since they moved on to the land on April 12.
One woman, who did not want to be named, said the Travellers’ dogs were attacking people and other dogs.
She said: “The car park at Maccess is full of excrement and urine along with the rubbish from more than 10 caravans.
“I appreciate the council and police have their hands tied by the legalities but where did our rights go, as law-abiding, rent, water rates, council tax paying citizens?
“They are allowed to destroy the football pitch, have dogs who are aggressive and leave two horses on the football pitch. I wonder what rights I would have should I decide to keep two horses on the football pitch?
“My children cannot play out, my neighbours are terrified but the caravans still they are here.
“We are all effectively held to ransom until the Travellers decide to move or are eventually forced out.”
Another woman, who did not want to be named, said she had seen children going into the derelict Maccess building.
She said: “They have been racing their horses up and down the field which has ruined it, and Gomersal Boys Club has not been on the field playing football since they came.
“At 2.30am on Saturday they were beeping their car horns and generally being noisy.”
A Kirklees Council spokesman said: “The council is monitoring the situation and continuing to liaise with the owners of the site, who are responsible for taking action to remove the encampment.”
A spokesman for land owners Castlerock Capital Limited said they hoped to have a court order in place by the end of the week to evict them from the land.
Parish council objects to Gypsy and Traveller site - Lincolnshire
From the Spalding Free Press
SUTTON Bridge Parish Council is objecting to South Holland District Council’s bid to renew planning consent for a Gypsy and Traveller caravan site.
The district proposes to put ten pitches on “a temporary stopping place” on land off Centenary Way.
Parish councillors objected to the plans when they were first submitted three years ago and agreed on Tuesday to resubmit their original objections as well as point out the access road will be more heavily used by industrial traffic.
Plans by Peterborough company PREL to build a new incinerator will add a further eight lorry movements an hour going past the proposed Gypsy and Traveller site every hour, according to outgoing parish council chairman Christopher Brandon-King.
He said the site was unwanted and unnecessary.
Coun Brandon-King said there was a greater likelihood of people being hurt because those visiting a transient site for a couple of nights would not be aware of the “enormous movement of HGVs going past”.
Coun Simon Booth said the original plan had been in existence for three years but during that time South Holland had not experienced any problems with transient camps.
Coun Chris Brewis said: “It’s on a road that’s only used for access to industry. It’s the M1 to the power station.”
Councillors also said the settled community should be consulted.
SUTTON Bridge Parish Council is objecting to South Holland District Council’s bid to renew planning consent for a Gypsy and Traveller caravan site.
The district proposes to put ten pitches on “a temporary stopping place” on land off Centenary Way.
Parish councillors objected to the plans when they were first submitted three years ago and agreed on Tuesday to resubmit their original objections as well as point out the access road will be more heavily used by industrial traffic.
Plans by Peterborough company PREL to build a new incinerator will add a further eight lorry movements an hour going past the proposed Gypsy and Traveller site every hour, according to outgoing parish council chairman Christopher Brandon-King.
He said the site was unwanted and unnecessary.
Coun Brandon-King said there was a greater likelihood of people being hurt because those visiting a transient site for a couple of nights would not be aware of the “enormous movement of HGVs going past”.
Coun Simon Booth said the original plan had been in existence for three years but during that time South Holland had not experienced any problems with transient camps.
Coun Chris Brewis said: “It’s on a road that’s only used for access to industry. It’s the M1 to the power station.”
Councillors also said the settled community should be consulted.
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