Travellers on the move as council closes in

Travellers have moved from the site of a Black Country hotel - but another group have set up camp at a park a few miles away.

A convoy of around 15 caravans left the old Compass Hotel near Junction 10 of the M6 in Walsall overnight.

They had pulled up yesterday after leaving a trail of mess and a puppy behind at playing fields in Wednesfield. Yesterday approximately 10 caravans pulled up on Holland Park in Brownhills, leading to enforcement action by Walsall Council.

They are thought to be part of the same group which left the council-owned field off Lichfield Road, Wednesfield on Wednesday after being threatened with court action.

Enforcement officers from Walsall Council have been out to Holland Park to order the group to move on, and say any "welfare" needs the group have will be addressed before a notice is served on them to vacate the land.

Pelsall councillor Garry Perry said: "People talk about equality when dealing with travellers, but what about the equality of normal residents living by the rules and trying to live their everyday lives.

"We have had travellers on Holland Park in Brownhills before and the council will be vigilant in dealing with it."

At the site of the Compass Hotel, which closed last year, a caravan appeared to have been left behind this morning after the travellers moved on in the early hours.

Police had been at the scene throughout yesterday trying to move the travellers on. Residents living near Lichfield Road in Wednesfield breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday evening when the caravans finally left the fields after more than a week.

Wolverhampton City Council had fixed a court date for Monday, but this was moved forward to yesterday after the number of caravans increased further.

But just hours before the council was due in court to seek an eviction notice, the travellers packed up and left. Mattresses, canisters, tyres and rubbish were left strewn across the field, costing thousands to clear up.