Express & Star

"These are luxury caravans hardworking people could only dream of" - MP launches scathing criticism on travellers ahead of Parliamentary debate

An MP has claimed residents across Walsall are ‘at breaking point’ as she prepares to take the borough’s travellers plight to parliament.

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Having successfully called for a Parliamentary debate on the issue of unauthorised traveller encampments, which will take place next week, Aldridge-Brownhills MP Wendy Morton has hit out at travellers who act ‘above the law’.

The MP will call for the Government to strengthen the laws that help councils tackle unauthorised camps.

She said: “It’s time to strengthen the law to stop these encampments appearing in the first place, toughen up the punishment for those that so flagrantly break the law, and ensure that Government and local authorities come together with the police and the travelling community to find an approach that works for everyone.

A recent encampment caused residents and leisure groups to stay away from Aldridge Airport.

“Sadly, it feels as though unauthorised encampments are now part and parcel of summer life on so many of our open spaces.

“In their trail is a mass of mess and waste; garden, household, industrial, and even at times human waste.

“Too often this is coupled with an increase in crime and anti-social behaviour, and increased tension within our communities.”

A year ago Walsall Council secured an injunction providing greater powers to boot travellers off 12 sites in the borough but since then it has seen other plots targeted more frequently with large encampments of more than 40 caravans doing the rounds at Aldridge Airport, Barr Beacon and Walsall Arboretum among other plots.

Mrs Morton declared while their way of life must be respected the endless game of 'cat and mouse' between travellers and the council 'has to come to an end'.

She said: "Many of these are luxury caravans and cars that so many hardworking families can only dream of affording.

"No longer is this the roaming workforce of yesteryear, travelling from town to town to find work and pay their way.

"These are large groups of travellers who arrive for months on end on an all-encompassing tour.

"The right to lead a travelling lifestyle is an important one, and must be respected, but the travelling community whom are very fond of reminding us of those rights; must begin to learn that with rights come responsibilities.

Drone pictures have captured the true scale of some recent encampments which have seen more than 40 caravans.

"No single community should ever be above the law and the right to lead a travelling lifestyle should not equal the right to break the law."

The MP added: "Just before the council serve their order the encampment packs up and moves on only for the same process to repeat itself, often just a few yards down the road in the same borough.

"All too often it becomes a game of cat and mouse, which comes at great cost to all hard-pressed taxpayers, this has to come to an end, enough is enough."