A group of travellers has pitched up at Bradford's Richard Dunn Sports Centre – just months after a previous eviction battle by the Council.

The unauthorised encampment comprises of several caravans and a couple of other vehicles on the site of the Grade II listed building.

A barrier - made up of four large concrete blocks and metal posts - was no longer in place today.

The group arrived overnight on Monday, according to residents living nearby.

The Telegraph & Argus has approached Bradford Council for comment.

One resident, who lives close to the former sports centre, said: “I feel let down by the council as they clearly aren’t doing enough to prevent them gaining entry to the site.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: A group of travellers has pitched up at Bradford's Richard Dunn Sports Centre – just months after a previous eviction battle by the CouncilA group of travellers has pitched up at Bradford's Richard Dunn Sports Centre – just months after a previous eviction battle by the Council (Image: UGC)

“There’s also the money it costs to tidy up after them and the last time they were here, there were a couple of dozen of large piles of garden waste on the site which needed a full day and numerous council vehicles/workers to shift.

“It’s just going to be another waste of tax payers money to clean up the mess when they have gone and the council nor the police take the correct action to prosecute.

“As for securing the site long term, all the council did was put three metal posts into the ground.”

It follows a large clean-up operation to remove bin bags full of rubbish and dumped items found on the site after the departure of a previous group of travellers, who had lived by the centre throughout May and June.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: A group of travellers has pitched up at Bradford's Richard Dunn Sports Centre – just months after a previous eviction battle by the CouncilA group of travellers has pitched up at Bradford's Richard Dunn Sports Centre – just months after a previous eviction battle by the Council (Image: UGC)

In June, the council had replaced concrete blocks preventing access to the area with metal posts.

Earlier in June, the Council vowed to have "protective measures reinstated” as soon as possible.

A spokesperson later said: “Work to clean and clear the site is ongoing and we hope to have it completed as soon as possible.

“The Richard Dunn site is inspected twice a week. We have recently taken steps to make it more secure, including walling up an open window. We are looking into putting up more secure fencing around the building and removing the upper level fire escape stairs; the lower ones have already been removed.”

The newly-classified Grade II listed building, named after the Bradford-born boxer who was famed for fighting Muhammad Ali, was due to be knocked down at the end of last year.

But it was recently saved by Historic England, which granted the building listed status.

The Twentieth Century Society, campaigners for the preservation of historically interesting buildings, had previously submitted an application to save it.

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