MORE TRAVELLERS SET UP ILLEGAL CAMP IN TOWN
ANOTHER illegal traveller camp has been set up on land outside a business in Nuneaton.
A group of travellers have parked up in the town on private property, and residents soon noticed their appearance.
Their arrival comes not long after politicians and organisations met in an attempt to set out ways to tackle the issue of illegal traveller camps in the area.
Warwickshire’s police and crime commissioner Philip Seccombe organised a meeting of several organisations to try to find better and more coordinated ways of tackling the problem following complaints from residents.
The meeting at Nuneaton Town Hall was attended by police, councils across Warwickshire, and MPs Marcus Jones and Craig Tracey, who represent Nuneaton and North Warwickshire respectively, who all vowed to work together to find solutions.
Caravans arrived at XPO Logistics in Bermuda Park on Saturday night
As the St David’s Way-based facility is private property, it is down to the owners to move the encampment.
But many fear that they could move onto public land in the borough, kick-starting yet more action with Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council.
Councillor Clare Golby, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council’s Arbury ward representative explained that she first received a text last night to say that a convoy of caravans had been spotted in the area, then she saw a video posted on Facebook.
As soon as I found out they were still on my patch I went down to take a look and see if there was anything I needed to do,” Cllr Golby said.
“I spoke to the security guard at XPO and he told me the travellers turned up last night and this has happened a few times last year.”
She added that the last time that there was an illegal traveller incursion at the site, they only stayed for a day, and she fears this could lead to them moving onto council-owned public land.
Cllr Goldby said: “As they have set up camp on private property there’s nothing the council can do to move the site on. The property owners are fully aware and are monitoring the situation. I truly hope this isn’t the start of another summer of cat and mouse with illegal traveller incursions.”
“On the plus side work is already underway constructing a transit camp nearby and this will make it easier for the police to move any illegal incursion on but the council have made it clear that they believe only a legislation change at government level will prompt them into action in getting tougher on illegal travellers.”