WARRINGTON Borough Council has hit back at claims by MP Helen Jones that they failed to act when travellers invaded land at Risley.
The council adopted a “common sense” approach rather then with a “knee jerk” reaction, the council said today.
Yesterday, the Warrington North MP, supported by three councillors from the Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft ward, said she had been “astonished” to learn the council would not act against the travellers in Silver Lane, Risley, until after the weekend because the travellers had promised to leave by then.
It was totally unacceptable, she said, that people in Croft and Birchwood should have to face a weekend of disruption.
But today, a council spokesman said: “Warrington Council reacted in a timely and proportionate manner to the arrival of Travellers at the site. We have a common sense approach to this issue which means we always look to negotiate with travellers. Our Gypsy and Traveller liaison officers have had great success across Cheshire adopting this approach.
“We try to avoid a knee-jerk reaction of legal notices as the cost to Warrington’s council tax-payers would be considerably higher if we took this approach. It would also take longer to reach a resolution.
“Our team responded immediately and visited the encampment to carry out welfare assessments, which is our statutory duty.
“It was agreed that the encampment would leave on Sunday, which they did, and we have had no issues reported to us. We work in partnership with Cheshire Police and it was agreed that they would visit the encampment regularly and monitor the situation.”
The council also replied to suggestions that a CCTV camera and mounding should be used at Silver Lane, because of the regular incursions by travellrs.
The spokesman added: “A fixed CCTV camera would not necessarily be the most effective deterrent in this instance and ‘mounding’ would prevent emergency vehicle access.
“This is a private road and not council property.
“Any alleged incidents of criminal damage are a matter for the police.”
