Travellers set up camp in Lawley, Telford
Wednesday 21st July 2010, 2:55PM BST.
Travellers have set up camp on a £600 million housing development in Telford.
About 15 caravans arrived in Ironstone, Lawley, overnight on Sunday. The caravans, vans and horseboxes are opposite Lawley Medical Practice.
The group’s horses are grazing on the land, while the travellers have set up next to eating areas and communal areas.
Chris Ammonds, spokesman for Telford police, said: “We are aware of the travellers and are working with the landowners to try and assess the best course of action. We will assist in any way we can.”
Dave Morgan, spokesman for Telford & Wrekin Council, said officers were offering help and advice to the landowner, Home and Communities Agency (HCA), and the Ironstone developers.
Mr Morgan added as it was not council-owned land they could not take any further action.
A spokeswoman for HCA confirmed they did own the land but it was being run by bosses of the Ironstone development.
Guy Scott, project director at Ironstone, said: “The legal notices have been put in and we expect them to be moved on by tomorrow afternoon.
“They have entered the site through a gateway which we ensure is locked at all times.”
Mr Scott said the travellers were discovered on Monday morning.
A clean-up operation is expected to take place after they move off the site.
UK News
Most Commented
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Planners ordered to stay on Newport visit bus
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- Letter: No sense in overseas job adverts
- The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff doesn't raise a smile
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Please don’t have an opinion on this as you may infringe on their human rights.
Report abuse
I have an equal right to have an opinion on this. Telling me to not have an opinion on this violates my human rights.
Report abuse
i drove past this site this morning and commented to my dad about all the brand new cars they have and the rubbish, which they had piled up near the fence. no doubt the council will be there empyting the rubbish, maybe we should give the travellers directions to Ketley recyling centre and they can take their own rubbish.
Report abuse
I like the photo, quite a contrast.
Report abuse
If they start doing a bit of gardening then they can say it is a farm and that they are eco warriors peronally saving the world and that they can live there. Then again it’s not an ANOB so perhaps they wouldn’t want to.
Report abuse
people have to live somewhere and so long as they respect their surroundings, regardless if it’s a castle or a caravan, why do we always whine….. different isn’t wrong…it’s different….and yes… ~I have had travelers in my back yard…better travelers than council druggies…
Report abuse
Hear, Hear!
Report abuse
“A clean-up operation is expected to take place after they move off the site.”
Yup, as always is the case. If I dump a load of rubbish somewhere I’m liable for a fine of several thousand pounds. These guys just get away with everything, for some strange reason.
Report abuse
@I Connell
Are you crazy? I live over the road from the travellers and apart from the mess and the fact they benefit from local services which I am expected to pay for, the land does not belong to them. Everybody has the right to live life in their own way but not if it infringes on others wellbeing and property.
Also, I don’t think if the travellers get moved on the Council will replace them with drug addicts so I don’t really see why you are making the comparison?
Report abuse
Here’s an interesting one. Some travellers set up a site. They left, taking their rubbish with them.
In an attempt to stop them from coming back the owners of the land illegally dumped tons of waste in part on a public footpath, making far more mess than the travellers ever did.
Report abuse
I Live opposite the site and actually think they have improved the view
and they are not a problem at all
Report abuse
why should the council clean up after them? should’nt a litter fine be applied to any mess they make?
Report abuse
Maybe this is the new Barratt Homes house for the recession. High density, fully sustainable (when you are bored of the heap of rubbish outside your window you can move) and without the need for all those expensive drives, running water or electric cables.
You have to remember though that everyone is allowed a holiday and with the kids off, these travellers have been wise in choosing to stop off in Shropshire for a few days.
Report abuse
Marx, your a fool
Report abuse
Did you mean ‘Marc’?
Report abuse
They have been moved on …
And have now set up camp in the car park of an industrial unit on Halesfield 2.
Maybe it would have been easier for the Police if they had followed them as they moved off their first illegal pitch ..Oh well more money wasted getting another injunction , another day of mischief and another pile of rubbish to be removed.
Report abuse
“I Live opposite the site and actually think they have improved the view
and they are not a problem at all”
To be honest, and the above picture does nothing to change my view, the development reminds me of a Spanish holiday camp so perhaps the travellers thought the same…;-)
Report abuse
I live opposite these and I can’t see why they were moved on so quick, it’s not like they’ve been in a hurry to build the shops and everything they promised. We’re still waiting.
Report abuse
They have now relocated to Halesfield 2, which to be honest they cause no problem in the area in which they set up home. But this is not to say i agree with the way they do things, i mean they dont have to pay council tax etc… but its a shame the mess they do leave behind.
Report abuse
#3 I think that new development in the picture (not the traveller site!) is exemplorary, do you like it Grey?
When they start to expand around Shrewsbury i hope that we will get housing that is eco efficient and good and interesting design such as that.
Report abuse
The horses are an attraction for the kiddies to feed.
Just as a matter of concern if you guys want your gutterings cleaning or tree’s lopping speak up.
Report abuse
Thet arent hurting anyone and people are so sterio typical of travellers. Consider where your hoodie teenager is now…Possibly on my kids park dropping litter, usuing bad language and having zero respect….
Tut…
Report abuse