Trenches dug in land near Walsall homes to combat traveller camps - WATCH as councillors showcase work

Walsall Council has begun installing the 4ft-wide troughs at Grange Crescent in Shelfield – which has been a hotspot for travellers camps.

Around ten caravans pitched up in August leaving a huge a mess behind including human waste, black bags, conifer trees and a fridge.

It was at least the third time they had been at the plot this year.

The authority's community, leisure and culture boss Councillor Julie Fitzpatrich was on site to oversee the work.

Councillor Richard Worrall who represents the area said the trenches were a welcome solution but would not solve the wider problem of travellers pitching up illegally across the borough.

He said: "I have been involved with these encampments for quite a long time now.

"This will probably prevent them at that particular location and that's helpful.

"There have been nomads occupations particularly over the last few months. In fact Rushall and Shelfield have really had an awful lot of encampments in the last 18 months. It has been pretty bad.

"Some of them have been pretty awful in terms of the problems, anti-social behaviour and rubbish left behind. But some of them have been okay.

"The fundamental problem is that unauthorised encampments without the proper facilities, toilets and no way to dispose of rubbish is just not clever. That is the whole problem."

Councillor Worrall claimed part of the problem was a general intolerance to travellers even if they stayed on legal sites.

He added: "The solution is to provide authorised sites so that they pay their dues and don't make a mess. Then you will get the children settling and going to local schools.

"But the Government asked us to provide 29 more pitches and people said okay, but where we live. It goes on and on and on.

"The problem is this country does not do nomads. But it is a way of life which they are entitled to. It's what they are born into.

"The trenches will be a short term expedient but not the total answer."

In 2015 there were 57 unauthorised encampments and the cost of cleaning up sites across the borough came to £92,428.

his year the level of encampments has been unprecedented with the number being in excess of 60.

Councillor Julie Fitzpatrick, portfolio holder for Public Protection,said: "The council has taken the decision to invest £100k now so we don't incur a repeat of the costs we have seen over the last couple of years. These measures will be a deterrent and a reminder to any anti-social travellers that Walsall is a no-go area."

The authority has also said it would be carrying out similar work to stop travellers on other sites across the borough. In another boost to residents Grange Crescent was named as one of 12 sites where the council now has increased powers to boot off travellers.

The road has been included in a county court injunction secured by the authority which was announced earlier this month.

The council is one of only three in the country to obtain such powers.

Usually it takes three to five days to obtain a court order to remove travellers from land but now the authority can demand that they leave much sooner unless they meet welfare checks.

It comes after more than 1,300 people signed a petition demanding action after large encampments set up at plots throughout The Delves causing havoc for locals.

The 12 sites now subject to the injunction are Delves Green Common, Broadway West Playing Fields on Wallows Lane, open space between Laburnum Road and Laurel Road, land opposite Laburnum Road, north of Walstead Road, land rear of the library at Fullbrook Playing Fields, West Bromwich Road, Goscote Lodge Crescent, Anchor Meadow Playing Fields, Manor Farm Community Association Floyds Lane, land at Hawthorn Road – adjacent to Maple Drive and Grange Crescent and east of Ford Brook, Barns Lane, land between Stubbers Green Road/Rischale Way and Lichfield Road and Walsall Arboretum.