Advertisement
Travellers move on to school playing fields
Date published: 26 August 2009
TRAVELLERS have set up camp on a school playing field after breaking down barriers to let their caravans in.
Council officers were made aware of the problem after 40 caravans were seen leaving the A627M at the Elk Mill roundabout at 5pm yesterday.
The council’s First Response team and Oldham police discovered the travellers setting up home in the grounds of St Anne’s Primary in Broadway.
Councillor Mark Alcock, cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, said: “Our Environmental Health team were immediately informed about this development but — due to legal constraints — they must wait until Wednesday morning to formally begin the necessary procedures to get the travellers to quit the site.
“Already this year we have had similar unauthorised encampments within the Oldham borough at Haggate, Chadderton, Oldham Edge, Shaw and at Mumps.
“This has caused understandable annoyance within the local community and the cost of cleaning up after travellers left a mess on other sites has run into thousands of pounds. That cash would have been far better spent on other services.”
Julie Turner, who lives in Windmill Close, which backs on to the school field, said: “The travellers started arriving about tea time and towing caravans on to the playing field. They had to break down a barrier to get in and some of the caravans are right up against the fencing behind our homes.
“ I can see what’s on the TV in the caravan closest to my house. We are all really worried about the mess that is probably going to be left behind.
“The police are keeping us informed of what’s happening so we’re keeping our fingers crossed that they will be moved on as soon as possible.”
Comments
Once again we have "legal" lies and spin. The police can move the travellers immediately since the photograph clearly shows criminal damage to the grassed surface. Why do we put up with these idiotic bureacrats. But of course if we complain we get demented council officials ranting about people machine gunning down these poor people.
get this scum out of oldham immediately! they are annoying at the best of times setting up camp on carparks around the borough. but this time making a mess of a school playing field will cost us the tax payer even more money!
kick them out and tell them next time they come they'll loose their homes and vehicles! its time oldham stood up to them! what they do is illegal!
Once again we have to endure damage and rubbish at the rate payers expense. When are the council going to do something positive. I would employ an assessor of damage caused and estimated cleanup expenses then evict them from the land, confiscating vehicles and property to the tune of the estaimeated costs. When they pay, they can recoverer their property.
looks like they are back near alexandra park where last year caused more than 40 thousans pounds worth off damage looks like we will be paying again
Its the law that is at fault here.Yes Human Rights.The council cant do right for doing wrong.Legal procedures have to be followed or the council will be sued.Why this bunch is classed as an ethnic minority is beyond me . We know what they do and where they are from.
The council should by rights provide a camp site within the borough but have not done so since the Ada Street Glodwick site was torched by locals who objected to their presence several years ago.So,where should we have the new site?
This is nothing more than blatant trespass!This is PRIVATE property!Get the gloves off and get it sorted! I am sick and tired of picking up the tab for these lazy, workshy irresponsible scumbags, who have no regard for others property, but are first in line when they want something!!
Faster than a speeding blancmange, our jelly spined member for evasion & interference, Alcock the impotent, flops into action. 'We'll have to wait to formally begin the necessary procedures for removing the nuisance', he says. When exactly are the local elections? We ask.
Put on your hi-viz jacket, inflate your suit to maximum and go and intimidate them. Stop wasting our money! Get rid of them! The clock moves on. Tick,tock. Tick,tock.
The law is not at fault-nor is it anything to do with Human Rights-they are not there legally, they have caused criminal damage-they should be dealt with by the police, and then be removed.
SO THESE PEOPLE CAN COME AND GO AND BREAK DOWN FENCES DISTURB PEOPLES LIVES AND WHEN THEY GO THEY LEAVE A MESS FOR THE PEOPLE OF OLDHAM TO PAY FOR MMM. IS THIS RIGHT? IF I WAS TO GO INTO TOWN AND DROP A PIECE OF PAPER I AM LIKELY TO GET A FINE OR POSSIBLY PRISON IS THIS BECAUSE I PAY COUNCIL TAX AND DONT PULL A CARAVAN MAYBE I SHOULD ITS A pity we are left like this council politics and other angencies make me laugh
Mrs c . Which one of them would you prosecute for tearing up the grass, or would you drag all of them off to court.Then how would you collect fines from someone with no address. The police have a difficult job and they move them on knowing that they are above the law because they are transient.They dont want houses when offered to them as they would be subject to the same law as the rest of us
Ever tried obtaining a driving licence, vehicle log book, tax, MOT, and Insurance without a fixed abode? Its laughable what they are allowed to get away with. One of them was even running with a number plate reading gypsie a couple of months ago. Funnily enough, the numberplate is not with dvla and no arrests were made to my knowledge.
Meldroo (26/08) talks about ".....these lazy, workshy irresponsible scumbags....".
I agree, our councillors are useless.
Have Your Say
Any danger this pond life will be done for criminal damage or trespass?
By ArthurD @ 26/08/2009 14:22:47