Time to stop traveller chaos

LAST weekend marked the latest chapter in Southport’s ongoing battle with disrespectful travellers.

Another group came and set up their motorhomes in the former park and ride site in Kew, just as they did there last year.

Just as they did at Splash World last year. Just as they did at the car parks in Tulketh Street last year. Just as they did at the former School for Hearing Impaired Children in Birkdale last year.

The issue wouldn’t be such a sensitive one if there wasn’t a trail of destruction left behind each time. The scene at the park and ride after the group left over the weekend was not a pretty sight.

Bags of rubbish, cardboard boxes, gas canisters – all left for the council to clear up, despite being just a few hundred yards from the recycling centre.

There’s no doubting that the problem is one that hugely frustrates Southport residents, unhappy at the mess left behind, unhappy at the lack of parking tickets given to those illegally parked vehicles.

There is no easy answer to the problem but an answer must be found soon to stop it happening again and again.

Sefton Council has got better at dealing with those who set up illegally, but it still takes too long to move them on and costs too much to clean up afterwards.

Ultimately, more must be done to prevent the arrivals.

The council last year discussed setting up a dedicated traveller site in Formby but progress is slow.

One way or another, solutions need to be found to prevent the endless cycle of damage around the town.