LOCAL councillor Mike Hannon has pledged to do everything within his power to help move a travellers encampment off Poole Park off Winwick Road, Warrington.
More than a dozen caravans and associated vehicles arrived on the parkland area off Winwick Road, opposite the Junction Nine Retail Park, yesterday (Saturday) afternoon. More vehicles arrived early this morning.
Cllr Hannon said he had been on to the council to start the set procedures to have the travellers move on by taking court action. But this could take up to 10 days, if not longer.
“I will be doing everything within my power to get them moved on, as they are already causing a mess on the site,” he said.
“But we have to follow set procedures through the courts and this could take up to 10 days, or even longer, by which time they could have moved on any way.
“My phone has been red hot from local residents complaining abou the issue but I don’t want to make any promises I can’t keep.
“I realise it is very frustrating but this is an ongoing problem in the Warrington area.
“Due to our location to the motorway networks we are a conveneint location. I would also urge local people not to give them any work as this will encourage them to stay.”
Cllr Hannon added he was “amazed” that Poole Park had never been a target for travellers in the past as it was an open piece of land, easy to access. He would be now holding talks with the council to look at ways of making it secure to avoid problems in the future.