City councillor: Install bollards and barriers to stop travellers

Tory councillors in Wolverhampton said bollards and barriers need to go up after the move was made at Windsor Avenue playing fields in Penn.

Travellers spent more than a week on the land as councillors struggled to get them shifted, much to the frustration of residents.

The latest incursion has led to calls for the council to adopt tougher measures to tackle the problem. Bosses in Sandwell were able to move a group on in four hours last week after arming themselves with new powers, leading to claims of a postcode lottery on travellers.

Opposition Conservative councillor Paul Singh said the time had come to consider barriers and bollards around parks and playing fields.

A petition for a barrier at Windsor Avenue, designed to stop caravans from being able to access the fields, was signed by more than 300 people.

People living nearby had grown frustrated after two recent traveller invasions.

Councillor Singh said: "The first incursion cost around £30,000 and the second must be around £15,000 with bailiff costs, clean-up costs and the rest of it. Having a barrier would be cost effective.

"We should be looking city-wide no doubt. It's not just a Penn issue it's a city issue."

There have also been calls for Wolverhampton to introduce a temporary holding site for travellers, which would provide the council with more powers to move on groups which refuse to use it.

They have been introduced elsewhere in the Black Country where they have largely proved a success.

But Councillor Singh suggested a possible deal which could allow Wolverhampton to use existing sites to let the whole region benefit.

He said: "The West Midlands Combined Authority needs to look at this. If there is one in the area we should be able to use these power. It would benefit everyone."

Wolverhampton council said it is looking for a 'long-term solution' and has said it would consider looking at setting up a temporary site.