Action urged over unauthorised traveller camps

A councillor has submitted a motion calling for tougher action on anti-social vehicle use and unauthorised Gypsy and traveller camps in Leeds.

Kieran White, who represents Reform UK on the city council, warned a "serious incident" could happen without further action.

The motion, which will be voted on later, highlights "delays in the courts of removing people quickly and giving the police confidence in dealing with a sensitive issue," he added.

Last month plans were approved to install barriers and bollards at Roundhay Park to deter illegal encampments, following repeated concerns from residents about criminal damage and their safety.

White said people's wellbeing was being "adversely affected by repeated incidents of noise nuisance, fly-tipping and other forms of anti-social behaviour."

He said it was about stopping people getting "unauthorised access to land".

"In Temple Newsam in particular, we've got issues with car meets going up onto the fields, doing doughnuts, things like that, and also unauthorised encampments as well.

"We've had residents in hysterics - really, really upset at packed meetings and I don't want people to take things into their own hands."

The motion suggests the council should make use of all available legal powers to "deter and address unauthorised encampments".

It also states that lessons can be learned from authorities like Rochdale which had secured a High Court injunction banning unauthorised travellers' camps across the area.

Previously, the council had to apply for a court order every time it wanted to remove one.

"I think most of the councillors that I've spoken to, they do want action on this and they do want some consistency throughout the city," White said.

White also believes more "physical deterrents" should be used at the entrance to parks "including gates, rocks and other appropriate barriers."

Leeds City Council said measures to be introduced in Roundhay include 125 sandstone boulders, seven bollards and earth mounding, along with five vehicle barriers which would prevent access to the two fields.

But at a packed public meeting in July, people questioned whether this would be a deterrent to prevent traveller encampments when there were not enough authorised camps in the city to house people.

Leeds GATE, a charity which supports Gypsy and traveller communities, has previously called for more sites to be allocated to caravans.

While the council manages two permanent Gypsy and traveller sites in the city, it does not have a temporary site for those living a traditional nomadic life.

An amendment to the motion, signed by Wayne Dixon and Emma Pogson-Golden of the Social Democratic Party, said the council "should also recognise that not all gypsies and travellers are the same [and] many contribute positively to their local communities".

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