Travellers return to park
TRAVELLERS descended on Macclesfield’s West Park for the second time in little over a month.
According to residents around 30 caravans moved onto the park, off Prestbury Road, on Wednesday, June 26.
The encampment has now left after police served a Section 61 Notice on its members saying
they must leave by the Friday morning.
But traveller encampments are becoming a familiar sight in Macclesfield as a similar group set up in West Park over the Bank Holiday Weekend in late May.
Around this time there were also some at Lyme Green and travellers set up camp at Macclesfield Rugby Club, on Priory Lane, on Monday, June 24.
One resident, who lives near West Park, said: “With the weather being so hot this week the park should of been full of children but now it will be empty and it’s a shame.
“Who is looking after our park and why isn’t there security like advertised on the gates patrolling and locking the gates?”
The influx of travellers has led to calls for Cheshire East Council to introduce a specific traveller transit site where the camps can go.
And the council says this is now being looked at.
Councillor Mick Warren, cabinet member for communities, said: “The council is fully aware of the impact of unauthorised gypsy and traveller encampments on communities.
“Cheshire East Council continues to explore the options for a permanent gypsy and traveller transit site. We are in the process of undertaking a feasibillocal ity study at Cledford Hall and will establish the cost of development.
“While this work is carried out, we are considering other mechanisms to deal with the increase in unauthorised encampments. The new leader and cabinet consider this issue to be a priority for this council and, in weeks and months ahead, we will seek a long-term solution. It is on my top priority list.”