THERE are many difficulties when addressing the issue of travellers setting up unofficial sites around the district, and it is not as clear cut as many would like it to be.
Having said that, there is little ambiguity about the fact that there have been a number of occasions where groups have come into town and set up camp in places that have caused great inconvenience for others.
And on top of that, these same groups have blatantly ignored the specially constructed official sites – sites which have just been refurbished at a cost of £820,000 to the public purse.
There is simply ‘no excuse’ for these illegal camps, particularly when these have included setting up on the site of a war memorial in Low Moor and using a playing field opposite a Clayton school, forcing the cancellation of a school gala.
This goes beyond inconvenience. It shows a total lack of respect.
There was an outcry over the amount of money to be spent on these sites at a time of huge cuts across the board. The fact that more than a third of the pitches are unoccupied can only add to that outrage.
Councils do face difficulties when it comes to moving travellers on, and must have official sites available. The problem seems to be that despite Bradford Council doing its bit to set up official sites, there is no willingness by some members of the travelling community to use them.
It is to be hoped the taskforce the Council has set up to tackle the issue will be able to find some way to ensure there is no repeat of the invasions of public land seen this summer. particularly when there are excellent and costly facilities available in the district for travellers to use.
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