Travellers remain on Middleforth Green in Penwortham despite South Ribble Council's efforts to remove them

Travellers remain encamped on a park in Penwortham despite efforts by the local council to remove them.

A number of caravans moved onto Middleforth Green, also known as Pear Tree Park, off Leyland Road, on Tuesday morning (July 21).

The group had previously been camping on Kingsfold Park playing fields, less than a mile away, before South Ribble Borough Council (SRBC) took enforcement action to remove them.

On Tuesday, the Council said it would again use its legal powers to force them off the park. However, the group remains on the green space as of Friday afternoon (July 24).

Coun Kath Unsworth said: “The council is aware of an unauthorised encampment at Middleforth Green, Penwortham.

“We are taking the appropriate action to remove the travellers from the site by using powers set out under Section 77 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

“We are seeking to have the encampment moved as quickly as we can, and will continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds and ensure the matter is resolved in an appropriate manner.”

South Ribble Borough Council have been approached for an update on their efforts to remove the group.

Groups of Travellers have set up camp onto a number of parks in the South Ribble and Preston area in recent weeks.

Last week, they moved onto Withy Grove Park in Bamber Bridge, where SRBC closed the council-run leisure centre for two days due to anti-social behaviour.

Last Friday (July 17), the community around Ashton Park in Preston said they were ‘appalled’ by damage reportedly caused by Travellers who set up camp on the city green space for 10 days.

The park was left strewn with rubbish, building waste and even used toilet paper. Amongst the detritus they dumped during their stay was a dismantled glass conservatory which was thrown into shrubbery, and a tree was also illegally felled.