Walsall Council criticised over travellers as they move sites

Caravans yesterday moved from Swannies Field, off Harden Road, to Oak Park leisure centre in Walsall Wood, after leaving behind a trail of destruction. Litter, broken toys and gas cylinders were strewn all over the green space as more than 60 caravans moved off on Thursday night.

Now Conservative Walsall North MP Mr Hughes has condemned what he calls Walsall Council's 'failure to deal with the ongoing issue'.

He said: "Residents have told me they are sick and tired of the illegal traveller camps. I share their anger. All the council is doing is pushing them around the borough from park to park.

"There is no long-term plan from the political leadership as they blunder around chasing the travellers all over the borough and running up huge bills. The council should be applying to the High Court urgently to get a borough-wide injunction in place, which can result in prison for offenders. Other councils have them in place so why doesn’t Walsall?

"The people of Walsall are being let down by this Labour/Lib Dem administration and they won’t forget it.”

Illegal traveller camps have appeared across Walsall in recent weeks, including in Bloxwich, Short Heath and Harden Road.

However, Walsall Council leader Sean Coughlan hit back at Mr Hughes after last night revealing his council had received the injunction to move travellers on from Oak Park.

He said: "Contrary to what Eddie Hughes has claimed, Walsall does have a borough-wide injunction in place, in that certain families from the traveller community are prohibited to carry out anti-social behaviour anywhere in the borough and certain families are forbidden to enter 12 specified sites with a view to setting up an unauthorised encampment. The order is binding on anyone who has notice of it.

“Last year, we were one of the first local authorities to secure injunctions on 12 sites across Walsall and this latest injunction will deter future incursions at Oak Park. The council has, whenever necessary, made urgent applications to the court to remove those unlawfully encamped on its land.

“Unfortunately, we can’t obtain injunctions at the drop of a hat. Courts won’t award injunctions lightly, in fact they’re hard won. They’re complex and a tremendous amount of legal detail and work goes into obtaining them. Nevertheless the council will not shrink from seeking orders whenever appropriate.

"This is a time for all of us to work together to remedy a national problem that includes the Government, and MPs should refrain from political point scoring."

Councillor Coughlan added: "I have every sympathy with residents’ frustration about travellers causing disruption in the local area. Instead of turning a blind eye to the problem, we’re actively working to achieve a longer term solution to this issue whilst operating within the realms of the law."