New calls for traveller transit site as a “matter of urgency”

NEW calls have been made for Warrington Borough Council to finalise a traveller transit site in the town following ongoing issues.

With 20 caravans occupying land at Silver Lane Risley and then moving onto Orford Jubilee Hub playing fields and the Junction 9 retail Park in the past week, calls have been made to resolve the issue of a transit site as a “matter of urgency.”

With no official transit site in the town, one group of travellers has been allowed to stay on council-owned land at an overflow car park at Orford Jubilee Hub since last March on welfare grounds.

Cllr. Wendy Maisey said:” Warrington Borough Council is failing its residents with the constant ongoing delays in meeting to finalising the transit site. It’s a false economy to continue like this, residents were again hit with maximum council tax rise by the Labour-run council and it’s the taxpayers who will have the burden of the clear-up costs for this massive encampment. I will again request the full clear-up costs for the Silver Lane encampment and will hopefully receive the figures this time.

“The Halton Council Transit site was full at the time of the Silver Lane encampment which is very telling. Nearby residents in my ward and in Cllr Bowden’s own ward of Birchwood have had to put up with anti-social behaviour, and value police resource has been consumed with this week. It really is a constant case of ‘whack a mole’ when the Silver Lane site began to clear after the Court order, and many of the group immediately moved on to Orford.
It would be remiss of me not to thank Prof. Steven Broomhead, CEO for his work since last weekend liaising with the police and other stakeholders to expedite the situation. He’s provided me with continual updates which I’ve been able to convey to residents who have been very grateful. It’s important they feel their voices and concerns are being heard by WBC representatives.
Cllr. Maisey said: “Cllr Russ Bowden has taken personal responsibility as Chair of the Task Group and Leader of the Council and needs to confirm the next Traveller Task Force meeting and identify a site, the short list of which was due in 2017 but is still to materialise. We’re in a vicious circle without a transit site, Cllr Bowden holds the key has a real obligation to resolve this as a matter of urgency.

The travellers who have been at Orford since March

Commenting on the travellers who have been on a council-owned car park since last March a Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: “The group arrived in March, and when a Traveller encampment arrives on council-owned land, we have a legal obligation to undertake welfare assessments. The assessments are undertaken by a member of the Cheshire and Warrington Traveller Team, in accordance with current legislation.
“During the initial welfare visit, it became apparent that the group required support so they have been permitted to stay while they access the support required.”
The council has also been asked for an update on the search for a transit site.

Travellers at Junction 9 Retail Park