THE TRAVELLERS who have been camped in Droitwich for more than ten days have now left and the site has been cleared up.
The group moved on this morning (Monday) following the case being heard at Worcester County Court on Friday (October 3) when Wychavon District Council was granted both applications made about the travellers. It meant not only did they have to leave the Ombersley Way site, but they were also prevented from relocating to the town’s Addyes Way.
Ian Marshall, Wychavon’s head of legal and support services, said “The court does not grant these kinds of injunctions lightly and this is a sign of how seriously we both take this illegal site.”
And, following the illegal camp, the authority has also announced it is investing £12,000 in more protective measures for five Droitwich sites which have been targeted by travellers to make it more difficult for groups to use them.
Vic Allison, Wychavon’s deputy managing director, said: “Whilst it is impossible to make our land 100 per cent inaccessible, we are keen to put more in place to make it even harder for illegal sites to spring up.
“The Wychavon area has a lot of provision for the gypsy and traveller communities, but illegal sites will not be tolerated, hence our swift legal action when they do occur.”
Wychavon is expecting Droitwich Town Council and West Mercia Police to both contribute £3,000 to help with the installation of appropriate measures.
Wychavon will provide the other £6,000.
Illegal sites cost Wychavon taxpayers thousands of pounds each year in clean up and legal costs and that is not taking into account the amount of time staff use dealing with the sites and the impact on communities.
“We’re hoping this investment will enable us to save in the long term as the staff time and clean up costs are substantial.” added Mr Allison.
The five sites are not being revealed by the council in a bid to protect them from being targeted in the future either before or after the measures have been installed.
