Travellers take over car park

Travellers camp which has been in the Cliffe Street car park, Dewsbury

Around 10 caravans pitched up in Cliffe Street car park last Thursday.

Coun Paul Kane said he had had numerous calls from concerned from residents .

He said: “They seem to come back every few months. It’s non-stop.

“I’m very angry. They seem to treat it like a camp site.

“I’ve got a lot of sympathy for people living in the area – they have had a lot to put up with recently.”

Coun Kane said the council had considered putting up barriers to stop the travellers accessing the car park.

“But that could be a problem for anyone else using it,” added Coun Kane.

A Kirklees Council spokeswoman said legal proceedings against the travellers had already begun.

A court hearing is due to take place at Huddersfield County Court at 10am today.

Around £25,000 was spent on eviction proceedings for encampments in North Kirklees by the Council in the last financial year.

Neighbouring authorities including Leeds and Wakefield have built permanent campsites so that travellers can pitch up safely without trespassing on council or private land.

In Leeds, around 190 travellers and gypsies rent pitches in its Cottingley Springs site, which provides electricity, water, hard-standing areas and a postal service in return for weekly fees.

There are currently no plans to build a permanent site in North Kirklees, the council said.