Travellers who set up camp on a recreational area in Meanwood have been moved on following pressure from local residents and a city councillor.
Residents living on Stonegate Road - opposite King Alfred's recreational fields - were among the first to report the traveller encampment. They complained that the camp was stopping children playing on the fields during the summer holiday.
One resident told me yesterday:
"They just set up camp and you couldn't get on there for love nor money. My son enjoys going there with his mates. There's pretty much nothing else for them to do around here, so we needed them back."
Moortown Labour councillor Sharon Hamilton has expressed her "relief" at the council's decision to move travellers on from the popular recreational fields.
Hamilton said she immediately referred the matter to the council's Travellers Services department when she was contacted by residents last week.
Following a visit with the neighbourhood police, it was decided that the encampment could not remain there, resulting in swift legal action to move the group on less then a week after setting up on the site.
Hamilton said:
"I, along with many local residents, am very relieved that this group of travellers have been removed from King Alfred's field quickly and without incident.
"It was a big shock for local residents to see the camp on their doorstep and especially disappointing for local children wanting to use the fields to play on during the summer holidays.
"I would like to thank the council for their swift action in this matter and thank local residents for their patience and cooperation."
Bid to 'toughen' laws on travellers
At a recent public meeting to discuss an ongoing traveller presence in the Garforth area Garforth and Swillington Labour councilor Mark Dobson called for stronger legislation to allow local authorities to move unauthorised encampments on more swiftly and for new sites to be built in Leeds to allow for more travellers to permanently live in the city.
Dobson reported in the comments section of a post on this blog last week that he was in the process of setting up a meeting, along with MP Alec Shelbrooke, with the government. He said:
"I am going to progress, with the MP, moves to toughen up the law and will be meeting with the Local Govenment Minister in early autumn to progress that agenda."
His comments come after travellers set up a series of encampments in the East Leeds area and Garforth in particular. The YEP reported on Saturday about travellers setting up camp on Soldiers Field, Roundhay, and Wellington Road, near the Armley Gyratory.
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