Express & Star

Council leader's outrage as travellers move onto Walsall Arboretum

The leader of Walsall Council has hit out after around 20 caravans set up camp at town's arboretum over the weekend.

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Travellers have set up residence in Walsall Arboretum

A convoy arrived at Walsall Arboretum on Friday and has remained at the site over the weekend.

It follows encampments at four other locations in the borough in the last week.

Walsall Council leader Mike Bird said they were a "nightmare" and although the council had an injunction in place to move them on, it required a court order which couldn't be obtained until Monday morning.

Councillor Bird said: "We have injunctions for another 23 sites across the borough, but we can't sort it out until tomorrow morning. They were not being very cooperative with us on Saturday and we have to wait for the court order.

Travellers have set up residence in Walsall Arboretum

"There were four incursions on Friday at other sites, and then they moved to the arboretum. They are a nightmare. They know the system, and it works in their favour.

"There's about 20 caravans there at the moment. When they move off they leave filth and dirt and we have to clear up the mess – using tax payer's money."

He added: "We had a big problem last year. We had 30 incursions last year in total and I don't know what the answer is. We all struggle to deal with the issue.

"It is not easy to just move them on. We will be having discussions as a council. We need Government support.

"They seem to be above the law. They cut locks off gates, anything to access private land."