Clean-up begins as travellers leave Wolverhampton parks
A clean-up operation has begun after travellers left two Wolverhampton parks they had been camping in.
The travellers have been moved on from East Park and Bantock Park after they set up camp just hours after leaving other sites in the city.
Wooden fencing surrounding East Park appeared to have been broken, but it is not known whether this was caused by the latest incursion.
The two groups arrived at East Park and Bantock Park on Monday evening, after they had previously set up camp at Heath Town Park and Windsor Avenue playing fields.
Both groups were served with a Section 61 Notice for trespassing on the council-owned land and were told to leave the parks as soon as possible.
The travellers at Bantock Park left yesterday, while the group at East Park had left the area before 10am today.
The city’s environmental services team were carrying out clean-up operations at all parks affected in the last few days.
Bantock is due to host a music festival on Saturday featuring former frontman of The Wonder Stuff, Miles Hunt, which organisers said will go ahead.
A group of travellers had also parked at Morrisons in Bilston, but they are also believed to have left the area.
Councillor Steve Evans, Wolverhampton council’s cabinet member for city environment, said: “We understand residents’ frustration when it comes to traveller incursions.
"However, evicting them is not a simple task and neither is preventing the incursions.
"Despite the extra security measures already in place, the occupants forced their way on to our much-loved green spaces.
"Occupants at Bantock Park, East Park and Windsor Avenue Playing Fields have now vacated the area following a Section 61 Notice served by West Midlands Police, requiring them to vacate the land as soon as possible.
"Our environmental services team has installed additional barriers to prevent further incursions and have been working tirelessly to thoroughly clean-up all of the affected sites to ensure the parks are clean and safe for visitors and residents to enjoy.
“Last week, we attended Birmingham High Court to get legal proceedings under way to apply for an injunction across 60 sites across the city. We hope the injunction application is granted so these sites can be protected.”
Wolverhampton South East MP, Pat McFadden, added: “This is the second time in just over a year that our local park has been taken over like this."
It is believed that a fun fair event due to be held in East Park over the weekend will still go-ahead as planned.
