Travellers have made my life hell for 20 YEARS – the police move them on… but their caravans are back the next day
- EXCLUSIVE: Three camp sites for travellers in Warrington despite orders to leave
- Residents are at their wits end and claim some are stealing and hurting animals
A row of white caravans line a country road that runs beside the busy M62 – their owners have been ordered to leave, but are so far refusing to budge.
Children play between the trailers while adults stand idly by. What may appear an odd sight to passing motorists is nothing new to locals in Risley, Warrington.
They claim to have been battling to reclaim the road from Travellers for the past two decades.
Around 20 caravans parked on Silver Lane on Thursday, July 27 and 20 caravans arrived on Orford Neighbourhood Hub Field, Jubilee Way, on Wednesday, August 2.
There were a further five mobile homes pitched up in the nearby car park of The Range store on Winwick Road and three caravans parked in the car park of a Premier Inn hotel on Manchester Road, in Woolston, on Friday, July 28 – but these campsites have since moved on.
Warrington Borough Council issued a Section 77 notice to evict the Silver Lane site, stating that they must be disbanded by July 30, and a Section 61 notice was also issued to the playing field campsite to leave the location by 8pm, August 2.
Police were called to an incident at the camp in February this year and four men were charged
Mrs Yates said she has given up trying to contact the police as they don’t seem to be interested in dealing with the problem
Pictured, the traveller site on Silver Lane in Warrington which may have up to 20 vehicles
An aerial shot of the site in Warrington which is situated next to a busy motorway
But, the travellers still remain at Silver Lane and Orford Neighbourhood Hub Field, driving residents to their wit’s end.
‘There’s been travellers here for as long as I’ve lived here and that was about 19 years ago,’ said Karen Yates, 50, ‘we have a field and they’re constantly coming onto our property.
‘A few years ago, a bunch of kids tied up our chickens with wire and they all died. Obviously, we can’t prove it, but we’re positive it was them.
‘My sister-in-law had Shetland Ponies and one of them died from Stranglers Disease.
‘The travellers had horses at the time and when they left, two horses were found down a ditch across the lane and they had died from Stanglers Disease.
‘I could go on because there’s been so many instances.
‘But it’s also just a culmination of things because they’re intimidating.
‘No one dares go down to where they are and some of them go into the local shops and steal anything they want.
‘I mean, I pay my council tax but the local council and the police jut aren’t interested.
‘The other day, a police car turned up to the site and then drove away without the officers getting out.
‘They pay no tax, they get toilets and have their bins emptied for free.’
According to Mrs Yates, travellers will leave the site only to return 24 hours later so a new court order has to be issued for their removal.
‘They’re very clever,’ she added, ‘I used to go to the police but now I don’t bother.
‘Now I speak to the councillors and get them to report everything.’
The travellers are said to have been in the area on and off for around 19 years and locals are fed up
As well as the site in Silver Lane, there were also travellers parked up in a Premier Inn car park and a car park in The Range
Speaking about the Silver Lane camp on Friday, Cllr Wendy Maisey, Conservative representative for Culcheth Glazebury and Croft, told the Warrington Guardian: ‘I have been up to Silver Lane this afternoon and met with the police sergeant dealing with it and the council officer in charge of the Cheshire traveller team.
‘The encampment is large with between 17 and 19 caravans with a mixture of Irish and UK vehicles.
‘It appears the council-run Halton transit site is full, which shows it is working and travellers are willing to use it and pay for the privilege.
‘I will again write to WBC to ask for an urgent update on the proposed transit site, which has been in consultation with the Labour-run council for more than 10 years now.’
The Warrington sites aren’t the only place where travellers are infuriating locals
A police car drives in to Silver Lane and turns round and drives off again without getting out of the car where the Gypsies are camped
The Warrington sites aren’t the only place where travellers are infuriating locals.
In May this year, travellers descended on Kew in London where the average house price is £1.5million.
And in June, Old Bank Recreation Ground in Mirfield, in West Yorkshire, was the site of a traveller camp and locals claimed their Coop was allegedly being targeted by shoplifting children.
Travellers used power tools to break a padlocked gate before entering the field in a convoy of caravans, towing excavators and other equipment behind them, reported Yorkshire Live.
There was a major incident in February this year at a Warrington campsite as police were called to the Silver Lane and four people were charged for a disturbance involving weapons.
The suspects were alleged to have attended the site armed with weapons including baseball bats, a machete and a Stanley knife.
The travellers arrived at Silver Lane on Thursday, July 27 this year and have apparently ignored a notice for their removal
Warrington Borough Council issued a Section 77 notice has been issued to evict them
It is alleged all four suspects attempted to enter a caravan with the intention of inflicting grievous bodily harm upon a person inside.
A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: ‘At around 12.30am on Thursday, February 2, police were called to reports of a disturbance on Silver Lane, Warrington.
‘Officers attended the scene and found that a group of people had attended the scene and damaged a number of caravans.
‘Four people were subsequently arrested in Preston Brook in connection with the incident, and they have since been charged with the following offences.
‘Joseph McGinley, 18 and of Nineyard Street, Saltcoats, Scotland, has been charged with affray, attempted aggravated burglary, criminal damage, possession of a weapon and threats to kill.
‘Arthur McGinley, 35 and of Warrington Road, Warrington, has been charged with affray, assault, attempted aggravated burglary, criminal damage, possession of a weapon and threats to kill.
‘Margaret McGinley, 37 and of no fixed abode, Ellesmere Port, has been charged with affray, assault, attempted aggravated burglary, criminal damage, possession of a weapon, driving without a licence, driving without insurance and threats to kill.
‘A 16-year-old boy has been charged with charged with affray, attempted aggravated burglary, criminal damage, possession of a weapon and threats to kill.
‘He was also charged with engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a child aged 13 to 15. This does not relate to the Silver Lane matter.’
A Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: ‘On Friday 28 July, we received reports of an unauthorised encampment of caravans at Silver Lane in Risley. A member of the Cheshire and Warrington Traveller Team attended the site to conduct an initial assessment and welfare checks.
‘A Section 77 notice was served to the group on the same day requiring them to leave, which was ignored. As a result, we sought legal advice and a hearing is taking place today, Friday 4 August.
‘The group was notified on Wednesday 2 August and they stated that they would be leaving the location, with some of the group having left already.
‘A Section 78 eviction notice is being requested at today’s hearing with a view to it being served on the remaining caravans, ordering them to leave immediately. When all of the group has left, we will arrange for the site to be cleaned.’
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