Gipsies flee over fears of violence (From Warrington Guardian)

Gipsies flee over fears of violence

FEARS of violence from nightclub revellers caused a group of gipsies to flee Winsford Marina last Friday night.

Six caravans and towing vehicles moved into the town last Sunday as around 15 gypsies set up camp in the parking lot at the marina.

But speaking to the Guardian on Friday, gipsy Joe Rogerson said that two police officers had warned him that the caravans could become a target for some people leaving Winsford's nightclubs.

He said he was worried about the possibility of violence after being involved in an incident in April last year, when angry Middlewich farmer Brian Hancock sent seven slurry tankers out to spray fields that the travellers had set up camp on.

Mr Rogerson said: "We were asked to leave by the police. They told us that the people from the nightclubs are going to come and cause trouble.

"We don't want to take that risk after what happened in Middlewich with the slurrying, so we will be going sometime later this evening."

Mr Rogerson praised Vale Royal Borough Council for what he saw as a tolerant approach to his family and their way of life.

He said: "The council has been 100 per cent good. We have had no hostility from them. They have supplied us with black bin bags and we have kept the place clean."

A spokesman for the borough council said that the council had developed a good relationship with gypsies and travellers in the area.

She added: "This relationship is based on the council's policy to actively work with these groups to support them while they are visiting the borough.

"This support takes the form of providing facilities to enable them to keep the site clean and tidy and negotiating how long they spend in one particular area.

"On this occasion the travellers, who arrived on February 15, said they would be leaving on Friday, February 20. The council therefore waited until Thursday, February 19, before serving a notice that asked them to leave on Monday, February 23.

"This allowed them to stay for the length of time they wanted."

Brian Roberts, community policing inspector, said: "The site chosen by the travellers was a well-used public amenity and I had general concerns that we had potential for conflict with the travellers and the local community.

"I also had the added concern of the close proximity of a number of licensed premises that do become very busy Friday and Saturday nights.

"I attended the site on a number of occasions and in conjunction with our colleagues at Vale Royal Borough Council, we agreed that it was advisable for the travellers to find an alternative location to reside."

rfraser@guardiangrp.co.uk

Police warn travellers that caravans could become a target