An injunction to tackle illegal travellers’ encampments across Rossendale is being pursued by the borough council, and metal barriers and earth mounds could be put in some locations.

It comes amid accusations from residents of ‘anti-social behaviour, extreme noise and filth’ created by Travellers based on a car park near Marl Pits Leisure Centre in Rawtenstall.

Accusations against the travellers and barriers to stop vehicles from different different sites in Rossendale were raised at a full council meeting

David Clark, on behalf of residents in Marl Pits and Heritage Drive area said in a letter events had been going on for over 15 months with ‘constant and repeated illegal parking’ on the car park at Marl Pits Leisure Centre near residents’ homes. The situation needed a critical and total solution.

In his letter, Mr Clark stated: “The Travellers create immeasurable disruption to our lives including extreme noise, filth and anti-social behaviour.  Can the council confirm vehicle height barriers will be installed to stop illegal encampments by traveller communities?”

Cllr Liz McInnes said she been asking about the situation too and had a council reply.

She stated: “The council has been making a multi-agency approach to deal with this particular set of travellers who have set-up unauthorised encampments at Marl Pits and also other council-owned and privately-owned land.  This approach has include removal orders, common law evictions and persuading the police to use their powers to secure removals

“The council now has contracts in place with a number of barrier contractors for solutions to deter and refrain Travellers from entering the site, We hope to have these installed in coming weeks. Other measures will considered too, like bunds so all access points are considered because we are committed to tackling this issue.”

She added: “The council has to consider measures like these on a case-by-case basis because of the financial costs involved. But this situation has reached a tipping point so council officers are well on the way to getting this sorted

“Further to this, the council is pursuing an injunction against the setting-up of unauthorised camps in the borough. But this is a challenging process due to the severe nature of the order.

“We are thankful to all residents who support us in gathering data and making the necessary logs to the police,so appropriate action is taken.”