Longer-term measures to reduce travellers’ access to a famous piece of Calderdale open space are being considered, says a council.

Ward councillors have been concerned by four separate groups of families setting up camp on Halifax’s Savile Park Moor this year and have been calling for action.

A Calderdale Council Cabinet member has outlined what action the council has been taking and what can be done for the long term with ward councillors seeking solutions.

Wainhouse ward councillor Ann Kingstone (Lab) said residents have raised legitimate concerns and she was following up on two aspects particularly.

placeholder image — Savile Park Moor, Halifax.

She said she has asked council officers for an update on progress towards providing more authorised Gypsy and Traveller sites in Calderdale, following consultation work last year and when people can expect to see progress.

Coun Kingstone said on a social media post: “It is better for Gypsy and Traveller communities, and it is also an important part of reducing the pressure which can result in unauthorised encampments being established on unsuitable land.”

And she said she added her voice to a request made her colleague Coun Dave Mendes da Costa (Lab, Wainhouse), for action to make it more difficult for vehicles to gain unauthorised access to Savile Park Moor.

“Residents have understandably become increasingly frustrated by the repeated disruption, particularly where rubbish has been left behind or there have been incidents of anti-social or aggressive behaviour.

“I do want to stress that this has not been the behaviour of everyone involved, and it would be wrong to generalise about an entire community because of the behaviour of some individuals,” said Coun Kingstone in her post.

She described Savile Park Moor as “an important and sensitive open space” and commented she did not want to see intrusive barriers which might spoil its character and had asked officers to investigate “discreet, low level measures which could prevent vehicles accessing the Moor while preserving its appearance and allowing legitimate access.”

Coun Paul Hawkaluk, explained what measures the council had taken to deal with the incidents and others.

“When deciding what action to take on traveller encampments on council-owned land, our aim is to support all communities, protect public spaces and make sure everyone is treated fairly and respectfully.

“We consider public health and safety, environmental protection and whether the encampment is stopping people accessing community facilities, balanced with the rights of the travelling community and any health or safeguarding concerns we identify during the welfare checks that we always do.

“If necessary and appropriate, we have enforcement powers that we can use, including serving a ‘notice to quit’, which requires those occupying the land to leave,” he said.

Coun Hawkaluk said if this notice is not complied with, the council has the option to take legal action to get a possession order and recover the land.

“We also work with the Police, providing information so they can decide if any of their legal powers need to be used,” he said.

Regarding Savile Park Moor specifically, other measures were being considered, said Coun Hawkaluk.

“Alongside responding to individual encampments, we are also looking at longer-term measures to help reduce repeated unauthorised access to Savile Park Moor,” he said.