Travellers evicted from factory site (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Steeton firm employs bailiff to remove camp

3:56pm Tuesday 25th August 2009 in News By Clive White

A company was forced to take action for the second time in four months after travellers set up camp on its site.

Staff arrived at Acorn Stairlifts, at the Millennium Business Park in Steeton, near Keighley, to see the car park taken over by 20 caravans.

To gain entry on Sunday night, the travellers had allegedly lifted a metal gate off a support by breaking a bolt.

In May, the business – one of the biggest employers in the Aire Valley – had to spend £3,500 on fencing off part of its site following a previous encampment. Now it has been advised to spend more money on fitting a height restriction barrier at the car park entrance to prevent tall vehicles, such as caravans, getting in.

Dave Belmont, company secretary, said it had been necessary to employ a bailiff to remove the travellers.

He said: “As soon as he arrived on Monday and presented an eviction notice they moved off.

“We continued with sales and kept the factory going but our staff had to park on the surrounding roads and people were concerned about their vehicles.”

On the previous occasion, staff said they had cars damaged, which included door locks interfered with. The travellers also left rubbish behind.

The company has contacted its lawyers and Bradford Council officers who liaise with travellers and gypsies.

Chief Inspector Mick Hanks, of Airedale and North Bradford Police, said his officers had gone to the site after being told of the travellers’ arrival on Sunday evening.