Travellers camp on Burnley sports field (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Travellers camp on Burnley sports field
10:00pm Monday 16th July 2012 in News
By Chris Adams
TRAVELLERS have set up a camp at a Burnley sports venue.
At least 10 caravans appeared over the weekend at the council-owned Prairie Playing Fields, on the corner of Windermere Avenue and Colne Road in Reedley.
Police say they are aware of the illegal encampment and have been informed that the convoy will move on ‘of their own accord’ in the next few days.
Queensgate ward Councillor Jennifer Knowles lives in nearby Towneley Street.
She said constituents had approached her with worries about the camp.
Coun Knowles, who has been up to view the site herself, said: “I am very concerned as to how these people actually got onto the playing fields because the gates are normally locked.
“I will be chasing the issue up with the council and I have been told that they have been served with a notice to leave.”
She added that the caravans could cause havoc with sports teams and others wanting to use the facility.
A large group of travellers occupied another council play area, Hargher Clough Rec in Harold Avenue, in April this year.
In that case, they were believed to have cut the locks off gates in order to park their vehicles, and council chiefs took the unprecedented step of clo-sing two public car parks in Towneley Park for a weekend to keep the travellers out.
Comments(15)
Truth will out
says...
12:13am Tue 17 Jul 12
The problem in a nutshell. Why are they in control of when their illegal occupation of council land ends?
Until the authorities start playing hard-ball they will invite further travellers to cause more misery as is their want.
Get the buggers out.
Petermariner
says...
1:13am Tue 17 Jul 12
BIG BOSS
says...
4:26am Tue 17 Jul 12
If this had been an old person, whom could not afford to pay their council tax, they would have them in front of the magistrates, before, they could blink and speaking of council taxes, those whom pay the piper, name the tune and i want, hit the road jack.!!!
MickyRover
says...
5:22am Tue 17 Jul 12
Beeping horns at 3am, fighting between themselves and letting their dogs c**p all over the paths, in which I thought there was a penalty for that.
Three fingered Ewood fan
says...
7:15am Tue 17 Jul 12
As we aren't quite getting it right, heading in the direction in which we are, can we not add a little 'transpanrancy' to punishment so that the public can clearly see that such anti-social behaviour is not acceptable? How about starting off with fast track public floggings? Saturday afternoons would be ideal. I'd love to be able to see some of the ASBO gang squirming before 15 lashes, or the man who stole lead from the parish church meeting the cat o'nine tails. We could even cart some of those currently occupying the Prairie for a bit of corporal punishment. The added bonus would be that Britain may no longer appear internationally as a soft touch and some of those coming here with criminal intentions may decide that maybe France is more their thing.
It's just a though.......
2 for 5p
says...
7:18am Tue 17 Jul 12
MickyRover wrote:Oh what a relief, so there are people in Blackburn who actually do some washing, hopefully they will stay a bit longer it might catch on. :-)
After two whole weeks in Blackburn, the 'travellers' are still camped behind the police station, with their washing lines attached from their caravans to the bobby's fence.
Beeping horns at 3am, fighting between themselves and letting their dogs c**p all over the paths, in which I thought there was a penalty for that.
hi everyone
says...
8:19am Tue 17 Jul 12
DaveBurnley
says...
8:33am Tue 17 Jul 12
badref
says...
9:06am Tue 17 Jul 12
RUinsane
says...
9:14am Tue 17 Jul 12
DaveBurnley wrote:I see they've finally managed to find their origin and should fit in well with the other thieving inbred nosebag feeders, scum in a bath always floats together. Eeeye
These so called 'travellers' are nothing more than mobile thieves. They wander round, stealing as they go and the police can't touch them because of their 'Human Rights'.
Three fingered Ewood fan
says...
10:50am Tue 17 Jul 12
badref wrote:That's true, but it comes from experience and intuition. For example, I cannot prove that Man Utd are going end up fairly high up in the table at the end of the next season, but I dare say they will from weighing up their track record, financial status and composition of the team, management and board.
Sweeping generalisations abound.
Now getting back to these traveller types, would it be fair to say that in the past they have occupied sites illegally, left sites in a poor state on leaving, shown complete disregard for the local residents and acts of theft have also increased where they are present? Would it also be fair to assume that very few, if any, hold down employment and therefore contribute nothing to society? Are their children properly schooled and educated, offering the prospect of the next traveller generation contributing to society?
My own opinion is that they take, whether legally or illegally, give nothing back in return and damage the local area. A bit like leeches. Their communities should be broken up and the entire sham ruled illegal.
mavrick
says...
11:00am Tue 17 Jul 12
The romantic view of a travelling way of life has been dead for a long time.
Mobile thieves was a description used but when there is no alternative, people will do what they have to.
useyourhead
says...
2:37pm Tue 17 Jul 12
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I am sorely tempted to test the theory that the councils do indeed discriminate by buying a flipping caravan and rolling up somewhere to see if I would be allowed to tell them when I will move, leave my droppings out in the open and a large collection of litter behind and of course not be billed or penalised when I choose to go to next place to do it all again.
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Discrimination - yes, alive and well and kicking the tax paying, law abiding citizen in the teeth each and every day.
A Local Lad
says...
8:55pm Sat 21 Jul 12
No goal posts up so it wouldn't have played havoc with sports teams !
Local lady !! hmmm ? When it suits maybe !!
Darren1951 says...
10:14pm Mon 16 Jul 12