TRAVELLERS that had set up an illegal encampment in Birchwood have vacated the site.

The camp, made up of two caravans, moved onto land at the corner of Fisherfield Drive and Gorse Covert Road on October 6.

But yesterday afternoon, Thursday, they moved on from the site and a clean-up has been requested.

Nigel Balding, Conservative councillor for Birchwood, has been calling for measures to secure the site and prevent it from being targeted by travellers in the future.

He said: “This encampment has been a dreadful worry and disturbance for many local people over the last few days.

“We urgently need measures to stop this happening again, and I was pleased when I read that Warrington Borough Council was looking at appropriate solutions to prevent further access.”

Cllr Balding says council leader Cllr Russ Bowden has issued a statement saying he has directed the installation of wooden bollards around the perimeter of the site to prevent further encampments.

Warrington Guardian: A traveller encampment on land on the corner of Fisherfield Drive and Gorse Covert Road in BirchwoodA traveller encampment on land on the corner of Fisherfield Drive and Gorse Covert Road in Birchwood

This is something he welcomes, but he says the measure should have been installed sooner.

“I think we have to hope that officers get on with this as soon as possible,” he added.

“But it would be useful to know about the costs of the two clean-ups, the proposed bollards and the assessment of appropriate solutions, as well as the other options which were considered just in case WBC has to do something more.

“Hopefully these bollards are installed quickly, are effective and look ok.

“In hindsight, it is easy to see that the council should have put measures in place sooner and should not be taking over 10 years thinking about a transit site rather than establishing one.

“Many of us have been calling for quicker solutions and it is vital for the leader of the council to commit to prioritise work to fix all these issues from now on.”