Travellers leave car park but more camps appear
Dozens of travellers have left a leisure centre car park in Cannock – but illegal encampments have appeared in Burntwood and Brownhills.
A handful of caravans arrived at Chase Leisure Centre and Golf Course a week ago but by Monday there were up to 40 on the car park at Stafford Road.
Cannock Chase District Council was pursuing legal action to get them removed but the travellers vacated the site yesterday afternoon.
Piles of rubbish had been left as well as a damaged metal sign.
A spokesman for Inspiring healthy lifestyles, which manages Chase Leisure Centre on behalf of Cannock Chase District Council, said: "I can confirm that the travellers have left the site, the leisure centre and golf facilities are fully open and a clean-up operation is under way.
"We are now in discussions with the council to look at measures that can be put in place to ensure something like this doesn't happen again."
Travellers were also present at Burntwood Leisure Centre yesterday.
Lichfield District Council has warned them they must move off otherwise bailiffs will be at the site tomorrow.
It was also confirmed travellers had arrived at two different sites in Brownhills yesterday afternoon although it is not known if they are part of the same group who were pitched at Chase Leisure Centre.
Handfuls of caravans parked up at the old Brownhills Market site near Tesco, while similar numbers turned up at Northfield Way near Clayhanger Common.
