LATEST NEWS: Caravans begin leaving busy playing fields but council will keep monitoring

A COUNCIL’s attempt for the emergency police removal of travellers, after caravans appeared on playing fields where 18 football teams play their home games, has been rejected.

The caravans set up camp on Woodhall Playing Fields, off Woodhall Lane near Calverley and Pudsey, on Sunday evening, according to a local councillor.

Councillor Amanda Carter (Calverley and Farsley, Con) said there were nine caravans parked on the site – which is owned by Leeds City Council.

She is concerned the unauthorised encampment is likely to cause disruption to the local community, including junior sports games scheduled this weekend.

The councillor said: “It is extremely disappointing to see an unauthorised encampment on Woodhall Playing Fields again.

“Caravans have been driven over the pitches and there have been reports of quad bikes causing more damage.

“This has caused disruption to the local community and has damaged the playing fields, which will cost public money to repair, not to mention interruption to scheduled matches.

“This is not fair on the local sports teams who use these fields regularly."

Leeds City Council confirmed it has applied to the courts to have the travellers removed.

A spokesperson for the local authority said: "The Council is aware of and has visited this encampment; the vehicles are on Council-owned land and we have applied to the courts for a possession order."

But a possession order requires a hearing and if the court grants it, those on the land must leave within 14 days or 28 days of the hearing, depending on the court order.

The local authority said it put forward an application to police for an emergency Section 61 removal, given there are football games scheduled in a matter of days on the fields and also training going on this week.

A Section 61 under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 allows police to ask trespassers to immediately leave land.

The trespassers can be sent to prison if they fail to leave the land as soon as reasonably possible.

But the Section 61 application has been rejected, according to the spokesperson for the local authority.

They said police do not consider the use of those powers to be necessary or proportionate, with information suggesting the potential for disruption is low and that currently there is no crime or anti-social behaviour of note.

This position could change though, with the site under frequent review and assessment.

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: “We are currently liaising with the council who are pursuing the eviction process, and officers from the local neighbourhood policing team are monitoring the encampment for any issues.”