Express & Star

Home Secretary Priti Patel urged to act over illegal traveller encampments

A councillor has called on the Home Secretary to strengthen laws preventing travellers establishing illegal encampments on open spaces.

Published
DUDLEY NEWS EXPRESS & STAR ( JOHN SAMBROOKS ) 02/08/16 Travellers who have taken over playing fields in Whittingham Road, Halesowen. . . .

It comes after a small group of travellers occupied land in Whittingham Road, Halesowen, owned by Earls High School, for two weeks during the summer.

In a letter sent to Priti Patel, Belle Vale ward Councillor Simon Phipps said that just two encampments over several years, including one in 2016, had cost the school in excess of £35,000 – money which he said have been better spent on education.

The playing fields being occupied also meant youngsters, who use it for football training, were forced to look elsewhere.

He said: “This money should be used to educate the children of Halesowen.

“It should certainly not be for paying the legal fees and clean-up costs associated with illegal encampments.

“There is also significant disruption and distress caused to residents who live very close by to the encampment.”

Traveller encampments have cost around £35,000

Former Home Secretary Sajid Javid had pledged to review the powers, including whether trespass should be made a criminal offence, but this has not taken place.

Councillor Phipps said a lack of action over the issue by the Government had led to a “concerning perception” the law didn’t apply to travellers – and called on Mr Javid’s successor to act.

He said: “As a council, we will be taking action by having a traveller’s transit site ready in the borough in time for next year’s travellers’ season, but the Government must equally act.

“I was pleased that Mr Javid announced a review and I have written to his successor, Priti Patel, to ask for the Home Office to consider this case when deciding what action to take.

“I hope that they will acknowledge the issues this causes up and down the country and take action to give police more powers to move illegal encampments on immediately.”

Earls School was forced to pay for legal costs to evict the travellers, as well as cleaning and securing the site.

In recent months travellers have moved on to other sites in the Dudley borough including school playing fields at the Link Academy in Netherton.

It forced the school to close for a day so the police could carry out an eviction after a high court order was obtained.

Hours later the travellers then moved onto Cot Lane Park, Kingswinford.

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