Traveller group moved on from Withy Grove Park in Bamber Bridge

Traveller encampments in the car park — Traveller encampments on the car park

A number of traveller groups were spotted by local residents on the car park at Withy Grove Park, in Bamber Bridge.

South Ribble Borough Council, have since completed the removal of the individuals to vacate the site on Friday 7 October and have cleansed the site.

A reader got in contact with Blog Preston to explain the problems that have arose with traveller encampments in the extended car park.

He said: “They live in their caravans at the taxpayers expense, allow their kids and pets to run loose and generally leave the place in need of serious cleaning up afterwards.

“South Ribble Borough Council have spent a great deal of our money improving the park facilities and parking with electric charging bays but these people have taken up so much space that ‘safe’ parking is at a premium and some of the facilities cannot be used.”

Travellers are said to leave the place in need of 'serious cleaning' — Travellers are said to leave the place in need of ‘serious cleaning’

Councillor Mick Titherington, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Leisure said: “We are aware of the travellers on the car park at Withy Grove Park.

“We have been in contact with the individuals to set in motion their removal and we have sought a legal notice for them to vacate the space.

“High Court Enforcement bailiffs have been engaged (7 October) and the travellers are now leaving the site. Once the site is clear it will be cleansed by our team.

“The extension of the car park is necessary to serve our brand new Sports Hub which is due to open imminently.

“The new 3G pitch sports hub and pavilion will serve the communities’ sports teams and will allow for even more people to get active locally.

“Unfortunately this area is frequented regularly by travellers, so the extension of the car park is not a contributing factor to their arrival.

“We understand the frustration to our residents when traveller encampments enter an area well used by our community and rest assured we do all we can to attend traveller sites swiftly and arrange for their removal.”