Travellers could become permanently banned from another Black Country site
Residents frustrated at the third illegal travellers camp at Aldridge Airport in just three months have been told there may be a silver lining from the latest incursion.
More than 50 caravans pitched up at the beauty spot in what is described as the largest encampment seen there.
Travellers have also set up camp at Walsall Arboretum.
The Aldridge camp forced a model flying club to cancel a meeting at the weekend and has forced residents to stay away because of 'intimidating behaviour'.
But councillors say that the more often the airport has to put up with the illegal camps the more likely it is that the council can get an injunction permanently banning them from the site.
It is thought the caravans that arrived on Thursday evening are the same ones which were earlier booted off Barr Beacon.
The Greenacres Model Aero Club cancelled their meeting at the airfield on the weekend while locals who usually take their dogs for walks around the plot or play games on the recreational grounds chose to stay away.
A post on the Greenacres MAC Facebook page said: “Sadly the GMAC Committee has to inform all members that we yet again have gypsies on Aldridge Airport. Walsall MBC are aware but it looks like we are going to lose another weekends flying.”
The latest camp comes after similar-sized encampments arrived in July and August.
But Walsall Councillor John Murray, who represents Aldridge, said: "Us local councillors are pressing really hard to get a formal injunction at the airport.
"Judges do not issue them lightly and one of the things you need is rock solid proof, historical proof, that there are regular incursions there.
"When they were turning up once every three or four months we feared it would not be enough to convince a judge.
"But now they are arriving once a month or what seems like every other week, we are fairly confident of being able to secure an injunction for here and Barr Beacon."
Fellow ward Councillor Timothy Wilson described the latest group of travellers as the 'largest’ encampment he had ever seen at the airport.
He said: "There has been a lot of anti-social behaviour and some intimidating behaviour towards local residents.
"It is just the frustration of them being there.
"Council officers are doing there best to get them removed but we need a court injunction to stop them getting on in the first place."
Walsall Council officials were in court on Monday trying to secure an order to remove the travellers.
Last September the authority obtained a landmark injunction providing greater powers to remove any travellers from 12 sites in the borough more quickly.
