Travellers set up camp at Dewsbury train station

Travellers have set up camp at Dewsbury Station car park.

Today (December 18), travellers are encamped in the train station car park at Wellington Road, Dewsbury. Photos show caravans lined up down one side of the site.

According to Kirklees Council’s website, the local authority is at ‘Stage 3’ with the encampment, which means that a welfare check will be carried out and the legal process started to evict the Travellers.

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It has been alleged that parking enforcement officers have been instructed by the council not to give parking tickets to the Travellers’ vehicles. Allegedly, this is due to the Travellers not having a permanent address.

In response to the claim, the council has since said that there is no need to issue parking tickets because the encampment is illegal and immediate action is being taken to evict the travellers.

Mirfield ward councillor Martyn Bolt (Con) explained how concerns had already been raised around the security of the site, with the barrier being damaged previously.

Cllr Martyn Bolt (Con, Mirfield), said: “Kirklees needs to be looking at all parts of its operation to make sure it’s not wasting money.

“Prevention is better than cure. They could have made sure the barriers were secure.

“It’s time Kirklees and the police use the law as it was changed by the government to allow it to become a criminal offence.”

Cllr Bolt has previously voiced his frustration that the full weight of the law is not being used in Kirklees to move Travellers on more quickly.

Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance & Regeneration, said: “We’re aware of the traveller encampment at Dewsbury Station, and have started the necessary legal procedures to move this encampment on.

“The barrier to the railway station car park is not in need of replacement, but we will work to minimise the risk of this happening again in the future.

“As the Traveller encampment is illegal and we take immediate action to evict them, we do not issue any parking ticket to their vehicles.”

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