Travellers set up camp close to park

Up to 20 families of travellers have set up camp on playing fields in West Bromwich.

They have moved onto Newton Road Playing Fields next to Dartmouth Golf Club, close to Sandwell Country Park.

Sandwell Council has now had court papers drawn up following complaints.

The authority will go to court to ask a judge to issue an order to evict the travellers from the site, off Newton Road.

Councillor Ian Jones, Sandwell's cabinet member for jobs and economy said: "Around 20 families of travellers moved on to the Newton Road Playing Fields next to Dartmouth Golf Club around nine days ago.

"Court papers have been drawn up and will be served some time today. The police have also been informed."

The news comes just weeks after gipsies were evicted from the site of the new swimming pool being built in Alexandra Road, Tipton.

Councillor Jones added: "Sandwell Council takes this very seriously.

"We successfully evicted travellers from the site of the new Tipton swimming pool and will work with police to move these people on as quickly as possible."

Meanwhile, a dozen travellers' caravans that set up camp on historic Pelsall Common have relocated to a busy traffic island on the A5 near Cannock, after being moved on by police.

No-one from West Midlands Police was available for comment today.