Travellers on tour cost taxpayers £30k

Travellers who taunted families before setting up camp on Wolverhampton playing fields have toured the city for the past five months - costing taxpayers £30,000.

The convoy, which doubled overnight to 24 caravans and other vehicles, has illegally set up home on at least nine different sites in the city, leading to the huge cleaning bill and legal costs.

The group jeered at residents of Lichfield Road in Wednesfield when they apparently smashed their way through locked gates on council land last Monday.

But their activities will almost certainly not be investigated.

West Midlands Police insist there have been no reports of criminal damage and the council is apparently not willing to make one unless any witnesses who actually saw the group smash on to the land come forward willing to testify in court.

The travellers' tour around Wolverhampton started on a privately-owned former factory site in Graiseley Row, Graiseley, on March 2. And after moving around a number of other sites in the city, it was today continuing in Wednesfield.

Wolverhampton City Council is taking civil action over the trespassing with a view to securing an eviction order. A court date had been set for next Monday but was today moved forward to Thursday because of the increase in the number of caravans.

But the convoy will not be moved on until at least next Monday. And the group is not likely to face any prosecution.

Council spokesman Tim Clark said: "Our focus is on using the courts to get a successful eviction order rather than trying to prosecute for something that there are no apparent witnesses to.

"If anybody has witnessed any criminal offence - and would be prepared to testify in court - they should contact the police."

West Midlands Police spokeswoman Pav Shergill said: "We are investigating complaints of nuisance behaviour and we have increased patrols in the area. We have not had complaints about criminal damage."

The police are also investigating vandal attacks at a park near to the travellers' camp after metal was taken from equipment. The council has now dismantled some of the attractions, including the swings.

Wolverhampton's Mayor, councillor Malcolm Gwinnett, said: "If I had smashed my way into land and started driving around, churning up the grass and making a nuisance for the people living nearby I know the police would arrest me."