Sponsored by
Residents blast 'hollow' victory over illegal gipsy encampment
A RURAL community hit by an invasion of gipsies reacted with fury yesterday after a courtroom battle to remove the travellers ended in a hollow victory.
Scarborough Council only partly succeeded in its first ever court attempt to force travellers illegally camping in public open space by Centurion Way, Crossgates estate, near Scarborough, to move on.
One application to force travellers present in the camp on Monday was granted by Scarborough magistrates yesterday. But the other, covering further gipsies who arrived over subsequent days, was not because the formalities had not been completed.
Legally, after serving the order on the travellers the council has to wait for 24 hours before enforcing the notice using powers available under the 1994 Criminal Justice Act.
However it was not clear what will happen next because Scarborough Council solicitor Michael Bell said did not believe the council could act until it had authority to move on everyone present in the camp, which would involve further proceedings.
The Centurion Way residents are furious because the travellers invaded the same street last year to conduct their annual horse fair, which is supposed to take place in the nearby village of Seamer.
Scarborough Council allowed the situation last year to run its course, since the official temporary site had been reduced to a mudbath by torrential rain.
But this year they assured residents the same thing could not happen again. Stoney Haggs road leading into Seamer was closed so the travellers could camp by the wayside.
Council officials also advised that caravans could use the old road leading to Seamer Carr tip. A security firm posted around the clock cover for Centurion Way, including placing a temporary barrier across the road, Scarborough magistrates heard. But now 35 caravans were parked off Centurion Way and only seven on the official site.
Travellers had asked the council to transfer the water, washing and toilet facilities from the official site to Centurion Way, as the authority did last year.
But Mr Bell said the council had no intention of helping the travellers camp illegally.
Two dozen residents were in court. Louise Richardson told the hearing how gipsy children had sat on her fence throwing apples and sticks at her husband as he tried to lay a patio.
She said: "None of them hit him but they were very close. I was very distressed. I went back into my house and sobbed. She had also been reduced to tears while driving because the gipsy pony and traps were blocking the only access to Crossgates.
The court heard residents could not sleep, eat, or open their windows because of the constant yapping of dogs, the stench of horse manure, the whine of electrical generators and gipsy children and dogs relieving themselves outside.
"I have had to keep my pets in. They are pacing my home and howling which is also keeping me awake. The travellers' pets have more freedom than my own," added Mrs Richardson.
Resident Michael Barnes said they had even started a self-help group. "It is just so we can feel like some sort of community again which has been taken away from us by this invasion," he added.
Another resident, Carolyn Conlon, said: "Everyone feels empty, drained tearful, frightened, almost as if life had come to an end. I feel like a prisoner in my own home."
Ward councillor Lucy Haycock told the bench: "The time has come to show the residents we do care about their way of life as well as the travellers' way of life."
However, after the decisions Mr Barnes said: "It is not even half a victory. There is obviously a loophole in the law and people are bitterly disappointed."
Email to a friend
Print this page- Three-inch blanket of snow heading our way today
- Alan Shearer in list of favourites for Leeds and England jobs: Latest odds
- Barnsley’s Keith Hill invokes Fawlty Towers over link with Leeds job
- McCormack feels United search can be narrowed down
- Redfearn throws down gauntlet as queue builds at Elland Road
- Rival chips in with £500,000 to restore the original Harry Ramsden’s
- Visit from Princess as Serbian culture celebrated
- Was this woman on your train to Manchester Airport?
- SportsTalk: Leeds United’s manager search, Super League and Calcutta Cup
- Libraries aren’t like supermarkets, they are magical places where dreams begin
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Yorkshire
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
