Travellers arrive on site ‘for a month’

Travellers with more than 30 caravans are camping on a piece of land in Telford, sparking calls to police from worried neighbours and businesses.

The groups moved in yesterday, on to a patch of grassland close to Hadley Park Roundabout in Hadley.

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The land, next to Hadley Park Windmill, is believed to be owned by English Partnerships.

There are about 36 caravans currently parked up and it is thought up to another 40 are on the way.

Mossey Murphey, one of the travellers, today said they had come from Ireland and planned to stay for a month on the site.

“We’ll be here for a month,” he said. “We are having a wedding, which will be on Saturday in two weeks.

“Everyone from the local community is invited. We’ll be having a marquee up here. We love to cross lines with the community.”

Mark Lewis, owner of Hadley Park House hotel, which is close to the site, said the travellers had arrived at about 5pm yesterday.

“We had to get in security last night, our own security, just to make sure the area is safe.”

He said there was a wedding on at the hotel today, which staff were hoping would not be affected by the new arrivals.

“We’ve told the police,” he said. “It’s just frustrating that nothing can be done.”

Constable Stuart Ind, of Telford police, said: “We’ve had a number of calls from neighbours and businesses.”

He said they were continuing to monitor the site, but it was the responsibility of the landowner to ask the travellers to leave.

“We shall await the actions of English Partnerships as to the removal of the encampment,” he said.

By Lizzie Yates