RESIDENTS have welcomed new bollards on a town centre play area that has been plagued by travellers.

The new bollards have been put in Olive Lane park in Darwen after the decision by Blackburn with Darwen Council, which council members hope will provide a permanent solution to the problem.

Travellers first arrived on Olive Lane Park in Darwen in August, where they set up camp on a piece of land between the play area and the skate park.

Each time travellers were moved on they would returned within a few days, infuriating residents and park users.

One resident had previously said: “They really do show up the council and the forces of law and order as impotent.

“Just imagine if tax-paying residents tried this on. We would be in front of magistrates and fined.”

The group were evicted for the fourth time last Friday and the bollards installed yesterday.

Sudell Ward Councillor Jane Oates said the news will be well received by residents, who have been voicing their concerns with her since the travellers arrival.

She said: “I’m sure everyone will be very pleased they are being installed.

“If they stop the travellers coming back it will be well worth it because their presence has caused a lot of upset for residents.

“If it had been a one-off occurrence it would not have been so bad.

“I do feel sorry for them as they have nowhere permanent to live but we have to take some action and think about the people who live here permanently.

"Hopefully the bollards will do their job and will deter them.”

A spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen Council said: “Blackburn with Darwen Council owns the land on either side where the travellers are, the land where they are is unadopted. Bollards were installed yesterday on Olive Lane Park”

Darwen Mayor Roy Davies has been involved in the fight against travellers since they appeared in August.

He said: “It’s great that they are putting bollards on the park. The general feeling from residents is that they should be moved off the park.

“People were saying the council need to do something like putting bollards up to stop them coming on. It’s great to see the council listening to the residents.

“Not only will it stop the travellers, but it will stop people driving over the park.”