Nightmare over as travellers finally move on from Stourport Sports Centre
The nightmare is finally over for residents of a town after travellers were moved on from a leisure centre after spending a whole year there.
Caravans had been camped on an overspill car park at the Stourport Sports Centre since June 2015 after council bosses faced a complex legal battle to get them moved on.
Three caravans on the site were then joined by four more in October last year and people in Stourport were left frustrated by the long delays in getting them to move on.
The visitors were even permitted to use the facilities of the leisure centre to keep clean during their unusually long stay as Wyre Forest District Council was keen to avoid hygiene issues in the encampment.
Council leader Marcus Hart said: "We have been working really hard to resolve the situation and remove the encampment.
"It was a very complex housing matter and the district council had to comply with strict legal requirements while dealing with the matter.
"Following this protracted legal process we were able to obtain a possession order from the court with a deadline of Monday, July 25 for them to move on. They left before the deadline.
"We would like to thank local residents and businesses for their patience and understanding while we dealt with this complex issue.
"The council does not know the travellers' current location and, as far as it is aware, understands they have moved out of the district.
"Council officers have cleaned the site and are working to make it secure."
