Travellers have set up camp on a school’s playing fields, prompting teachers to cordon off parts of the site and cautioning students to remain indoors.
The group allegedly broke a padlocked entry gate to gain access to the field at Ysgol Emrys Ap Iwan secondary school in Abergele, Conwy, on Monday.
The headmaster of the school, Matt Wildsmith, has taken measures to safeguard students by restricting access to certain areas and also raised concerns about speeding vehicles on a nearby road.
Wildsmith criticized the travellers’ actions as disrespectful and illegal, emphasizing how the situation could divert staff focus from supporting students during a period when they need it the most, especially with exams underway.
Mr Wildsmith added that it was ‘very difficult at this stage’ for North Wales Police to evict the travellers from the land ‘due to various legal processes’.
Conwy County Borough Council meanwhile said it was trying to ‘resolve the situation bearing in mind the relevant legislation, statutory and non-statutory guidance’.
In a letter to parents, Mr Wildsmith said he was made aware on Monday that part of the school site, the Dinorben playing fields, had been ‘illegally accessed by a small but significant number of people and their camping and caravanning equipment’.
He added: ‘They had criminally damaged the locked gate to gain access. Unfortunately, due to various legal processes, it is very difficult at this stage for the police to evict these people and their equipment from our land.
Travellers on playing fields at Ysgol Emrys Ap Iwan secondary school in Abergele, Conwy
Drone footage of the travellers on the field with the school (middle right) in the background
The travellers arrived on the fields of Ysgol Emrys Ap Iwan secondary school on Monday
Teachers have closed off areas of the school site and advised their pupils to stay indoors
The group allegedly broke a padlocked entry gate to gain access to the field in North Wales
‘Please rest assured that processes are in place to ensure they are dealt with as swiftly as possible. It is a great shame that our lovely school has been disrupted by this ignorant, illegal behaviour.’
He said it had the ‘potential to take many of the school staff away from helping the children over the next few days, particularly at this most stressful of times whilst the external public examinations are taking place’.
Mr Wildsmith continued: ‘I am sure that many parents and carers will be worried about the impact that this situation could have on their children.
‘We will however do all we can to ensure that the students are not disadvantaged by the behaviour of these people and I am very confident that we will succeed with this.’
He went on to say that he was ‘keen to run the school with a ‘business as usual’ approach’ but there will be a ‘few tweaks to what we do’.
This will see the school ‘adopting extra measures to further enhance our security, erring on the side of caution due to potentially unpredictable solutions that may arise’.
He said these measures will include the front of the school, including the field and Astro pitch, being unavailable for students during the day.
PE lessons scheduled for these areas will also be relocated, while pupils are ‘asked to make their way indoors as soon as possible’ after arriving at school.
Drone footage shows the travellers on the sports field next to the school in Abergele, Conwy
A wood chipper and gas canisters next to one of the caravans on the site in North Wales
Teachers have imposed a range of measures for pupils at Ysgol Emrys Ap Iwan school
A man next to children’s bikes and a car on the school playing fields after travellers broke in
The Ysgol Emrys Ap Iwan headmaster has hit out at the ‘ignorant, illegal behaviour’
One of the caravans on the school playing fields in North Wales next to a football goal
The letter sent to parents by Ysgol Emrys Ap Iwan school headmaster Matt Wildsmith
Mr Wildsmith also said there are ‘fast-moving vehicles reportedly driving down Faenol Avenue – students are asked to walk on pavements and use allocated crossings.’
He asked sixth formers to ‘keep their movements off site to a minimum and walk in group’, adding: ‘No students should approach the Dinorben Field or anyone camping illegally on there.’
Mr Wildsmith said measures will be relaxed when the ‘risks to the children in school are reduced back to the typical level.’
North Wales Police confirmed it received a call about the situation on Monday evening, adding: ‘We are aware. No damage was caused to a gate.’
And a Conwy County Borough Council spokesperson said: ‘We are aware of an unauthorised encampment at Dinorben Playing Field.
‘We have a duty of care for the welfare of all communities and are working with the school taking steps to resolve the situation bearing in mind the relevant legislation, statutory and non-statutory guidance.’
