A travellers encampment on the car park of the former Raven Inn at Glazebury has been given temporary permission to remain on the site.
Apart from a brief departure around February 8/9 the encampment of four vehicles has been on the car park since January 20.
Temporary toilets have been provided at the site following health concerns after reports locally of human excrement on the car park.
Local residents and Cllrs. have been left frustrated about the encampment, with local campaigners eager for the pub to be returned to community use despite previous planning applications to demolish the pub and build houses on the site.
Peter Sturman from the Save the Raven campaign group said: “There have been some interesting developments recently.
“According to a local government website, the travellers have ‘temporary’ permission from the owners to remain on the Raven car park. It now appears they are, in some way, providing toilets for the travellers.
“There was a need for something to be done, because there is a covered area, at the back of the Raven, that was being used as an outside toilet.
“I have heard conflicting reports about the payment for the toilets. However it makes sense that the landowners / travellers pay for them. This is private land and temporary permission has been given. Under no circumstances should any of this cost come out of the public purse.
“The community remains ready, willing & able to negotiate with the owners, to purchase the Raven. We would love them to engage with a view to coming to an agreement to everyone’s benefit”.
A Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: “We received reports of an unauthorised encampment of four caravans at the former Raven Inn, Warrington Road, Glazebury. We have not supplied the encampment with toilets, as this would be the responsibility of the landowner. Private landowners are also responsible for securing their sites, however, our officers are contacting the owners to offer advice and support.”
