Sandwell travellers ban to be extended by another three years

The tough powers mean anyone who sets up an unauthorised encampment on 17 council-owned sites could be jailed.

Sandwell Council bosses are now working on renewing the injunction in the courts for three more years.

The powers have been brought in to stop those like the notorious Cassidy family who set up camp on council and privately-owned sites more than 25 times between June 2014 and August 2016.

Fourteen members of the Cassidy family are currently subject to the ban, which has been in force since August.

The council is also pursuing the head of the family, John Cassidy, for the £10,000 cost of the current injunction – with high court enforcement officers currently trying to track him down to serve an order to recover the costs.

Effective

Cabinet member for regeneration and economic investment Paul Moore said: “This injunction, along with other action we’ve taken, has been incredibly effective.

“It’s given the people of Sandwell much-needed relief from anti-social behaviour, intimidation and fly-tipping.

“The original injunction was for 12 months and we’ve been able to show that it’s worked.

“We have now started the process to renew the injunction by June this year, to continue protecting our land from the Cassidy family and unauthorised encampments in general.”

Councillor Moore said the number of unauthorised camps in Sandwell last year was 60 per cent lower than in 2016.

Anyone breaching the current injunction could face two years in jail, a fine or have their assets seized.

Any breaches of the injunction should be reported to the council or the police.

The current injunction was granted after the high court heard how the Cassidy family had caused anti-social behaviour and ‘an extreme amount’ of fly-tipping on sites across Sandwell.

John Cassidy is banned from the whole of Sandwell, while the rest of the family are prohibited from setting up unauthorised encampments, causing damage to barriers and fly-tipping anywhere in Sandwell.

The 17 council-owned sites named in the injunction are:

• Kent Road Open Space, Friar Park, Wednesbury

• Millenium Park, Friar Park Road, Wednesbury

• Sandy Lane Open Space, Friar Park, Wednesbury

• Blakeley Wood Road, Tipton

• Land off Dartmouth Street, Greets Green, West Bromwich

• Shaftesbury House car park, High Street, West Bromwich

• Churchfields Playing Fields, Newton Road, West Bromwich

• Wyntor Lane Open Space, West Bromwich

• Crookhay Lane / Chester Road Open Space, West Bromwich

• Meadow Avenue Open Space, West Bromwich

• Greets Green Recreational Ground, Claypit Lane, West Bromwich

• Ridgacre Industrial Estate, Ridgacre Road, West Bromwich

• Lion Farm Playing Fields, Newbury Lane, Oldbury

• West Smethwick Park, Victoria Road, Smethwick

• Harry Mitchell Park, Coopers Lane, Smethwick

• Black Patch Park, Foundry Lane, Smethwick

• Tame Road Playing Fields, Brandhall Oldbury