Following our recent article on the nuisance suffered by residents in the borough resulting from illegal traveller sites, there are indications that Sandwell council is reviewing its policy on these itinerants and seeking closer co-operation with the police to get them moved on as swiftly as possible.
This follows suggestions we made and Sandwell council is to be applauded if, allied with the police, it decides upon and carries out a much stronger response to traveller illegal occupations of land. Such an approach would send a clear message to the travelling community that breaking into parks and taking over public amenity green spaces with their caravans and other vehicles will not be tolerated in Sandwell. An unambiguous warning that speedy action will be taken to end illegal trespassing is likely to result in Sandwell being seen as unwelcoming by travellers and the expectation is that they will pass on by.
Sandwell council has the responsibility to ensure that any derelict land it owns, (and there are sites throughout the borough), does not remain neglected for longer than necessary and that, as far as it reasonably can be, it is fenced against travellers. Waste ground is a magnet for travellers as shown by successive traveller occupations of the land at Ocker Hill, Tipton on which the now demolished Bolton Court flats stood.
Residents and land owners have a part to play by making complaints to the council and the police when they come across trespassing or its common consequences of fly tipping, criminal damage and noise nuisance.
The press release observed “Sandwell Council and West Midlands Police are committed to ensuring the fundamental human rights of travellers and will take no action that will unreasonably prejudice their interests” We expect them to give proper consideration also to the interests of residents and council tax payers who suffer nuisance or loss of use of facilities resulting from the illegal acts of travellers. After all “travelling” is a lifestyle choice from which residents are so often the victims. The law abiding majority have human rights too.
Following our recent article on the nuisance suffered by residents in the borough resulting from illegal traveller sites, there are indications that Sandwell council is reviewing its policy on these itinerants and seeking closer co-operation with the police to get them moved on as swiftly as possible.
This follows suggestions we made and Sandwell council is to be applauded if, allied with the police, it decides upon and carries out a much stronger response to traveller illegal occupations of land. Such an approach would send a clear message to the travelling community that breaking into parks and taking over public amenity green spaces with their caravans and other vehicles will not be tolerated in Sandwell. An unambiguous warning that speedy action will be taken to end illegal trespassing is likely to result in Sandwell being seen as unwelcoming by travellers and the expectation is that they will pass on by.
Sandwell council has the responsibility to ensure that any derelict land it owns, (and there are sites throughout the borough), does not remain neglected for longer than necessary and that, as far as it reasonably can be, it is fenced against travellers. Waste ground is a magnet for travellers as shown by successive traveller occupations of the land at Ocker Hill, Tipton on which the now demolished Bolton Court flats stood.
Residents and land owners have a part to play by making complaints to the council and the police when they come across trespassing or its common consequences of fly tipping, criminal damage and noise nuisance.
The press release observed “Sandwell Council and West Midlands Police are committed to ensuring the fundamental human rights of travellers and will take no action that will unreasonably prejudice their interests” We expect them to give proper consideration also to the interests of residents and council tax payers who suffer nuisance or loss of use of facilities resulting from the illegal acts of travellers. After all “travelling” is a lifestyle choice from which residents are so often the victims. The law abiding majority have human rights too.
Following our recent article on the nuisance suffered by residents in the borough resulting from illegal traveller sites, there are indications that Sandwell council is reviewing its policy on these itinerants and seeking closer co-operation with the police to get them moved on as swiftly as possible.
This follows suggestions we made and Sandwell council is to be applauded if, allied with the police, it decides upon and carries out a much stronger response to traveller illegal occupations of land. Such an approach would send a clear message to the travelling community that breaking into parks and taking over public amenity green spaces with their caravans and other vehicles will not be tolerated in Sandwell. An unambiguous warning that speedy action will be taken to end illegal trespassing is likely to result in Sandwell being seen as unwelcoming by travellers and the expectation is that they will pass on by.
Sandwell council has the responsibility to ensure that any derelict land it owns, (and there are sites throughout the borough), does not remain neglected for longer than necessary and that, as far as it reasonably can be, it is fenced against travellers. Waste ground is a magnet for travellers as shown by successive traveller occupations of the land at Ocker Hill, Tipton on which the now demolished Bolton Court flats stood.
Residents and land owners have a part to play by making complaints to the council and the police when they come across trespassing or its common consequences of fly tipping, criminal damage and noise nuisance.
The press release observed “Sandwell Council and West Midlands Police are committed to ensuring the fundamental human rights of travellers and will take no action that will unreasonably prejudice their interests” We expect them to give proper consideration also to the interests of residents and council tax payers who suffer nuisance or loss of use of facilities resulting from the illegal acts of travellers. After all “travelling” is a lifestyle choice from which residents are so often the victims. The law abiding majority have human rights too.
Following our recent article on the nuisance suffered by residents in the borough resulting from illegal traveller sites, there are indications that Sandwell council is reviewing its policy on these itinerants and seeking closer co-operation with the police to get them moved on as swiftly as possible.
This follows suggestions we made and Sandwell council is to be applauded if, allied with the police, it decides upon and carries out a much stronger response to traveller illegal occupations of land. Such an approach would send a clear message to the travelling community that breaking into parks and taking over public amenity green spaces with their caravans and other vehicles will not be tolerated in Sandwell. An unambiguous warning that speedy action will be taken to end illegal trespassing is likely to result in Sandwell being seen as unwelcoming by travellers and the expectation is that they will pass on by.
Sandwell council has the responsibility to ensure that any derelict land it owns, (and there are sites throughout the borough), does not remain neglected for longer than necessary and that, as far as it reasonably can be, it is fenced against travellers. Waste ground is a magnet for travellers as shown by successive traveller occupations of the land at Ocker Hill, Tipton on which the now demolished Bolton Court flats stood.
Residents and land owners have a part to play by making complaints to the council and the police when they come across trespassing or its common consequences of fly tipping, criminal damage and noise nuisance.
The press release observed “Sandwell Council and West Midlands Police are committed to ensuring the fundamental human rights of travellers and will take no action that will unreasonably prejudice their interests” We expect them to give proper consideration also to the interests of residents and council tax payers who suffer nuisance or loss of use of facilities resulting from the illegal acts of travellers. After all “travelling” is a lifestyle choice from which residents are so often the victims. The law abiding majority have human rights too.
Following our recent article on the nuisance suffered by residents in the borough resulting from illegal traveller sites, there are indications that Sandwell council is reviewing its policy on these itinerants and seeking closer co-operation with the police to get them moved on as swiftly as possible.
This follows suggestions we made and Sandwell council is to be applauded if, allied with the police, it decides upon and carries out a much stronger response to traveller illegal occupations of land. Such an approach would send a clear message to the travelling community that breaking into parks and taking over public amenity green spaces with their caravans and other vehicles will not be tolerated in Sandwell. An unambiguous warning that speedy action will be taken to end illegal trespassing is likely to result in Sandwell being seen as unwelcoming by travellers and the expectation is that they will pass on by.
Sandwell council has the responsibility to ensure that any derelict land it owns, (and there are sites throughout the borough), does not remain neglected for longer than necessary and that, as far as it reasonably can be, it is fenced against travellers. Waste ground is a magnet for travellers as shown by successive traveller occupations of the land at Ocker Hill, Tipton on which the now demolished Bolton Court flats stood.
Residents and land owners have a part to play by making complaints to the council and the police when they come across trespassing or its common consequences of fly tipping, criminal damage and noise nuisance.
The press release observed “Sandwell Council and West Midlands Police are committed to ensuring the fundamental human rights of travellers and will take no action that will unreasonably prejudice their interests” We expect them to give proper consideration also to the interests of residents and council tax payers who suffer nuisance or loss of use of facilities resulting from the illegal acts of travellers. After all “travelling” is a lifestyle choice from which residents are so often the victims. The law abiding majority have human rights too.