"Travellers" at Pennington Flash

Oy · #1 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 03:58 PM

My regular birding spot - Pennington Flash Country park - in Leigh, Lancs, has been invaded by what I am supposed to call at work "Travelling people of no fixed abode"

I counted 54 caravans on the pay-and-display car park yesterday.

Apparently they've been given a week to move on. Yet if I parked there without a valid ticket I'd be slapped with a fine pronto.

Some locals I was talking to said they'd seen the kids taking shots at the resident Canada Geese with an air rifle.

I'm finding it very difficult to remain calm about this

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!

Ahem.... that feels better. But not much

Two photos I took yesterday - the first from across the flash. The 2nd is as close as I got before the verbal assault started.

Oy · #2 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 07:06 PM

Nobody bothered about this?

...or this subject a bit too risque?

digi · #3 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 07:19 PM

I hope they have to pay the Pay and Display charge ;-)

Alan · #4 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 07:27 PM

I'm afraid we have silly laws with no teeth for this kind of thing! If I had my way I'd send the bulldozers in!!!

Good idea about the pay and display tickets, they should back-charge them and make them pay on the spot.

That's not too risque for you is it Oy!

Oy · #5 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 07:31 PM

Not at all Alan.

If I had my way I'd have them arrested and on remand in prison while their lawyers argued it out.

Fourwings · #6 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 07:34 PM

Why the laws of this country should protect them is beyond me, they contribute nothing to society and should therefore be given nothing

I'm with Alan, send the bulldozers in.

John · #7 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 07:40 PM

I don't hold out much hope on the moving on issue. No too long ago some travellers set up camp in a beautiful part of Worcestershire by the village of Eckington. It took a very long time to move them on.

When I used to live in Birmingham a party of travellers set up camp within 500 yards of our house on a small piece of green in the Bartley Green area (by the RSPCA Barnes Hill dogs home if anyone knows that area). The problems they caused were horrendous. Burglaries, car theft, fights, arson, bullying, you name it and it more than likely kicked off as soon as they arrived. The Police didn't move them on for many months and whilst they were still there any residents that complained were mysteriously either beaten up or burgled (or in some cases both).

I have no problem with the genuine Romany's as they are lovely people it's these so called Travellers that get me.

Oh boy!! you've got me started now.

John

Barbara · #8 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 07:41 PM

I was there last Sunday and I can't believe what has happened since then. It is a lovely peaceful place and something like this should not be allowed to happen.

Mark43 · #9 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 07:44 PM

We had a similar thing at work.They moved 8 caravans in over Christmas and stayed till early January.

The mess they left behind was unbelievable,The area right outside our loading doors was there toilet and you really had to be careful where you trod.

When they finally went the landlords had to hire a massive skip just to dump all there rubbish in.

So they hired a security man who say outside all day and night in his little car then when he went to the toilet they came back again.

Three times since Xmas now they have come back.Even concrete blocks and a fence hasn't stopped them.

I have no objection if people don't want to live in a normal house and live the normal way but it's the mess and the complete disregard for other people that gets me seething.

Rant over

glsammy · #10 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 07:47 PM

Sorry, I can't put in print what I think...

Alan · #11 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 08:03 PM

Wouldn't ASBO's cover this kind of disorder?

glsammy · #12 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan

Wouldn't ASBO's cover this kind of disorder?

No Alan, that's not how it works in this Country. If you complain about them YOU get the ASBO.

Oy · #13 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 08:08 PM

ASBO's rely on the law.

These people seem above the law

glsammy · #14 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oy

ASBO's rely on the law.

These people seem above the law

Did you see that program on TV (BBC2) last week? Travellors break on to someones land, set up a van, refuse to move. The landowner ask the council to remove them, and the Council threated the LANDOWNER because Caravan's were on her land without permission!!

Go figure.

Alan · #15 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glsammy

Did you see that program on TV (BBC2) last week? Travellors break on to someones land, set up a van, refuse to move. The landowner ask the council to remove them, and the Council threated the LANDOWNER because Caravan's were on her land without permission!!

Go figure.

Gypsey Wars?

Wild-Woman · #16 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 08:19 PM

A local school had to close for two days because 'travellers' had removed the railings and set up camp on the school field! When they eventually moved, the field had to have specialist cleaners to come in to clear the rubbish and disinfect the grass where it was used as a latrine! All at the expense of the school too. Disgusting. ww

glsammy · #17 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan

Gypsey Wars?

I believe it was.

glsammy · #18 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glsammy

I believe it was.

I'm backing out of this now, I wasn't going to say anything...but.....

Tragus · #19 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 08:45 PM

We have a similar problem near to where I live, but the farmer actually granted them permission to use his land. They have been told to move on by the courts, but as yet they haven't gone. Mind you they aren't as bad as some (as mentioned above)

Has anyone reported the shooting incidents to the local police, RSPCA ????
If not and you do live in the area then here are some numbers...

RSPCA 08705 555 999
Greater Manchester Police...0161 8725050

I would think that the Local Wildlife Officer would like to know what is going on around his patch, and as far as I am aware it is illegal to shoot wildfowl from a public place without permission of the landowner!!! (Not only that it's downright sick!!)

It might be worth a PM to Phil Briggs? After all that's what he's there for

There is also a Wildlife Crime thread somewhere?
Jo

Oy · #20 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 08:50 PM

This is a Council run park/ reserve - the Wardens are aware and say they are dealing with it.

Tragus · #21 (**permalink**) 01-04-2006, 09:04 PM

Cheers OY

I'm a little sensitive about wildlife being shot at the moment, so I tend to jump in both feet first.
Jo

Barbara · #22 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 04:02 PM

We went today to Pennington this morning, we thought we'd give it a try. Anyway, we drove up and promptly turned around, we could not believe it. They had not even parked in the car park spaces just completely surrounded the perimieter and basically filled the whole car park. Caravans, waggons and rubbish

. We carried onto Risley Moss and met a gentleman from the Pennington area who had heard that the travellers had been served with a temporary court order and would be served with a permanent one on Monday. We shall see!

philbyuk · #23 (**permalink**) 30-01-2007, 08:05 PM

anyone got anymore info on whether theye have been moved on yet?

RogerTheCat · #24 (**permalink**) 30-01-2007, 08:41 PM

A few years ago a group set up camp adjacent to my then office. Until they moved on we had to keep every door locked and remove our car stereos etc. A manager went to court to get them moved on and not only were they allowed to stay we had to provide them with bins, which were not used.

Blackdog · #25 (**permalink**) 30-01-2007, 10:50 PM

A bunch of them set up camp behind the house I owned about 12 years ago. When I complained to plod, I was told not to approach or antagonise them as the occupant of the van backed up to my garden wall was known to carry a loaded sawn off shotgun.
I don't mind being shot at, providing I can shoot back. I'd win; I used to teach it...

They were there for about three weeks before they were finally moved on, leaving the kind of mess you would not want me to describe.

I'm told that in some parts of Bristol, ASBO's are highly prized as a 'Badge of Honour'. How do you legislate for that?

I'm going to stop now before I turn completely into Victor Meldrew