Travellers move onto former Staffordshire stadium site

Councillors claim a padlocked gate was broken to gain entry to Cannock Stadium off Pye Green Road in Hednesford.

Around 50 caravans appeared at the site yesterday morning and it is believed to be the same group that parked up on a field off Bee Lane, in Fordhouses next to Elston Hall Primary School – forcing staff to cancel sports day.

Hednesford North Councillor Alan Pearson said: "I heard about them last night. It's very awkward for the police to get these people off the land.

"They have forced entry onto the site. They have broken a padlock," he claimed.

"I have been taking phone calls from residents who are concerned that these people are in the area."

He continued: "Officers from the council have served a notice on them to move on.

"When they move off the land, it is going to cost the council – the taxpayer – to clean up the mess they leave behind.

"The worse case scenario here is that they will stick around for a week but Cannock Chase Council is quick off the ball with serving a notice."

One resident who lives nearby, who did not want to be named, said: "We saw them gain entry to the land yesterday morning.

"We heard they broke a padlock to get on there. It's unacceptable. We don't want them there."

Elston Hall Primary had to cancel its key stage two and early years sports days yesterday.

Wolverhampton City Council ordered the travellers to move on.

Parents were informed by the school that sports day had been cancelled and a message was posted on the school's website.

Parents said it was a shame the plug had to be pulled and Bushbury North Councillor Daniel Warren said it was 'very disappointing for the children'. It is thought the travellers were the same ones who had recently been moved from land in Fowlers Park, Park Village in Wolverhampton.

Rubbish had been left strewn all over the park including along with children's toys, food wrappers and cleaning products.

Cannock Stadium closed in 2008, forcing groups including Cannock and Stafford Athletics Club to find new facilities.

The Pye Green stadium site was originally earmarked for housing, but plans were scrapped in 2012 when Cannock Chase Council announced the site would instead be used for sport and leisure once again.

Football pitches and an athletics track are the preferred options for the site.

A feasibility study into the proposals is currently taking place and is due to continue into next year. Cannock Council has been given £1.5 million to rebuild the former Cannock Stadium site.

Last month travellers moved onto a town centre car park in Stafford.

Around 15 caravans and a number of cars appeared on the Doxey Road long-stay site next to Sainsbury's.

Stafford Borough Council served them with a notice and they moved off the car park within 24 hours.