Travellers move to car dealership in 'protest' over land

DEFIANT travellers have set up camp in the middle of a Cleethorpes car dealership park.

The family of 17 have described their bold move as a "protest" against North East Lincolnshire Council's refusal to allocate them land to live on.

And they say they will continue their "game of musical fields" with the council for as long as it takes.

Head traveller Mary Smith, 41, told the Grimsby Telegraph they enjoyed tormenting NELC.

She said: "They will get sick of this a long time before we will. It is fun for us. You've heard of musical chairs, well this is our game of musical fields. We are going to keep on moving, it doesn't bother us."

They parked up their five caravans on a patch of grass in the middle of Vauxhall, Mazda and Stoneacre car dealerships on Altyre Way, near Tesco, at 8.30pm on Thursday night, following their eviction from Taylor's Avenue, Cleethorpes.

Eviction proceedings from their current – privately-owned – location are underway but it's unlikely they will move before next Thursday.

Local businesses are worried by their arrival but did not want to comment.

But Mary said they do not want trouble.

She continued: "We are very happy here, it is a nice spot and we haven't had any trouble so far. We like it in Cleethorpes, it is fresh and clean.

"This is a protest against the treatment of the council against us. If they give us a piece of land, all of this will stop.

"We are not asking for much, we just want a site to live on."

Local authorities can bid for government money to build or refurbish existing traveller sites, but NELC has no plans to do this.

During Thursday night's stand-off between travellers, council workers and Humberside Police, officers barricaded off land that travellers could potentially camp on.

Meanwhile, another group of travellers in three caravans have pitched up on land off Kiln Lane, Stallingborough.

It is thought they came from Cleethorpes farmer Boo Parkes' land, near Pennells Garden Centre, Humberston Road, following their eviction two days ago.

Owner of nearby trucks and trailer parts business, Black River Limited, Bob Barcroft, claims they have defecated outside his premises.

He said: "Up until now I thought live and let live, but now it could affect my business. I am shocked and appalled."

Councillor Chris Shaw, leader of NELC, said: "We don't treat this as fun, but we are taking action – and supporting other landowners to do the same. We will continue to do this over any unauthorised use, regardless of by who.

"While there is a funding stream to contribute to providing traveller sites, bidding local authorities must demonstrate a need. Up to this point, we've had very low levels of travellers in North East Lincolnshire."