New firm bosses claim £300k damage has pushed back opening as travellers pitch up
Travellers have moved onto land where a fencing company was due to open, with bosses claiming thousands of pounds worth of damage has been caused.
Up to 10 caravans pulled onto Kingsland Eagle Industrial Estate, in Tipton, on Monday, where fencing company First Fence was preparing to open.
Company bosses claim windows have been left smashed on buildings on the estate, in Bagnall Street, in recent days.
The firm had been laying £250,000 worth of concrete on the site and had planned to erect fencing to secure their property.
First Fencing officials say the travellers moving onto its site has pushed the new base behind schedule for its opening in March.
Company director, Vinny Kotecha, said travellers had been threatening staff if they were to be forced off the site.
Police had been down to the site in five vehicles with two dog units were at the scene but the company was told by officers that they could not move them off.
Director of First Fence Vinny Kotecha, said: "It's unbelievable to be told this by police, considering we haven't done anything wrong at all in the matter.
"Each pane of glass the travellers smash costs around £10,000, not to mention the £250,000 worth of concrete we've filled in which hasn't had time to settle properly due to the break in.
"We've notified the police every step of the way, even calling off the work we had scheduled for Monday.
"Everything on our side has been done by the book."
Neighbourhood Police Sergeant Sean Griffiths, said they had been working with the company to help resolve the matter.
He said: "We are aware travellers moved onto private land in Bagnall Street, West Bromwich, on Monday 22 February.
"This is currently a civil matter - there are no police powers to move them on at this stage - and our officers have advised the landowners on the appropriate course of action.
"We are monitoring the situation and are liaising with both the landowners and the travellers."
Traveller camps had been established at sites across Sandwell in recent months, including public parkland, leading to council officials to pursue court orders to have them removed.
Concrete blocks were installed in a bid to stop caravans accessing the former Bolton Court site in Tipton.
Caravans also pitched up on a car park near playing fields in Newton Road, West Bromwich, and Tanhouse Avenue, Great Barr.
