Daily Mail

School children banned from outdoor play over fears of travellers’ dogs

- By James Tozer

CHILDREN have been banned from playing outside at their primary school over fears that dogs from an illegal traveller camp in an adjacent field could attack them.

Staff are worried that two dogs seen on the camp which was set up on Monday could get into the grounds under a fence.

To the fury of some parents they have cancelled outdoor playtime as well as all outdoor after-school events such as football and netball for the rest of the week. Yesterday some took to social media to demand that the two caravans are moved on without delay rather than forcing their children to miss out on enjoying the sunny weather.

The group have parked their caravans on a field next to Wat’s Dyke primary school in Garden Village, Wrexham, and their washing can be seen draped over the fence of a children’s play area.

In a text message to parents, the school said it had conducted a risk assessment which had concluded it was ‘a high risk for pupils to access outdoor play at this time’. It went on: ‘The travellers have two small dogs that could potentiall­y gain entrance to the school whilst the children are under our care.

‘All outdoor after-school clubs, ie community football, athletics and netball will be cancelled for the duration of the week.

‘Any concerns regarding this situation should be reported to the police or health officials.’

posted: Writing ‘Whyon Facebook,should our one children parent be kept like prisoners in their own school?’

Another wrote: ‘Bet they don’t get fined for dropping litter or not picking up the dog mess – (one) rule for 1 and not for others.’ A father with three children at the school, which has around 312 pupils, said there should be a meeting between staff and parents to discuss the problem.

Garden Village councillor Andy Williams, a community governor at the school, urged parents to ‘remain calm and keep their distance’ while the legal process towards eviction takes place.

‘The residents have been uneasy and there have been a couple of incidents where dogs have escaped from the site and slight verbal altercatio­ns with residents,’ he said. ‘But the council is working hard and the legal process is being carried out to resolve this as soon as possible.’

Police and council officials have been at the site. A Wrexham County Borough Council spokesman said: ‘Due to the presence of dogs, it was decided after proper risk assessment that pupils would be kept in the school during usual lunch break and playtimes.’

He said the authority was working to ensure the land is ‘vacated at the earliest opportunit­y’.

 ??  ?? Camped out: Washing hangs on a fence next to a play area in Garden Village, Wrexham
Camped out: Washing hangs on a fence next to a play area in Garden Village, Wrexham

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