Travellers moved on in record time
Travellers have been warned that illegal camps will not be tolerated in Sandwell after tough new powers to move unwanted visitors on in record time were used.
Sandwell Council said it would take ‘swift action’ in a bid to deter travellers from pitching up illegally.
The warning comes after a group was moved on from a car park at Great Bridge Market Place four-and-a-half hours after arriving at 8am on Wednesday. Council and police officers were involved.
The three caravans then transferred to the Ridgacre Industrial Estate in West Bromwich but were followed by council officials and ordered to leave. They were gone by 3pm.
Residents have previously had to wait more than a week for groups to be moved and local authority chiefs are now confident they are equipped with the powers to stop travellers from causing misery in the borough.
The industrial estate is one of 17 council-owned sites that are covered by injunctions banning encampments as of June. A legal travellers site was also set up in Smethwick earlier this year.
The land, near Black Patch Park, is a designated area for encampments and gives the authority more power to move illegal groups – who can no longer complain there is nowhere for them to go – on.
Councillor Paul Moore, cabinet member for regeneration, said the quick work to get the travellers moved on this week should be a message to other travellers.
He said: “This is a record time for evicting an illegal encampment. We want the message to go out loud and clear that we will take swift action on illegal encampments and we will not tolerate the misery and mess caused by travellers on council land.
“Not only was the action swift meaning residents and businesses were not subjected to anti-social behaviour but there was no need for a costly clear-up operation.
“Dealing with unauthorised encampments and the mess they often leave behind cost the council around £250,000 last year.”
