A SUTTON councillor has accused St Helens Council of "penny-pinching" over their refusal to place bollards and mounds on a piece of land which is regularly targeted by travellers.

In a letter to Liberal Democrat John Beirne, referring to the waste land near Gower and Egerton streets, a representative of the council's Development department said: "The area in question has been subjected to traveller nuisance for some considerable time and to tender the whole area secure would require the construction of grassed earth mounds in excess of 1.5 metres high. However, the cost of doing this would be in the region of £8,500 and I regret to say that necessary funding is not available at the present time."

Councillor Beirne, whose ward includes the waste land, told the Star: "It is just penny-pinching. Gypsies and travellers arrive on this site week-in, week-out and every time the council have to pay the court fees to get rid of them and then have the area cleaned of all the rubbish they leave. They have already visited this site six times this year and no doubt will continue to do so."

He added: "Just because there is only a small amount of housing in the area doesn't mean the residents should be treated differently than anywhere else. I am disgusted that the council claim they can't find the money - these comments are unacceptable."

Councillor Beirne is now aiming to gauge the reaction of local residents by circulating a petition which he then plans to hand in to the council.

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