Barriers installed by council to keep travellers off Fylde fields

Fylde Council announced the work in August after caravans and other vehicles turned up in quick succession at Ramsgate Road Park and Blackpool Road North Playing Fields, both in St Annes and popular play and dog-walking spots, to the frustration of local residents.

The council immediately followed the regular procedure of pursuing legal action to remove the travellers but they remained at the sites for several days and returned to Ramsgate Road a second time.

Coun Roger Small, deputy leader of Fylde Council whose Kilnhouse ward covers both sites, said: “After a significant number of illegal encampments on the parks over the summer, residents asked us in large numbers to secure them against further incursions.

“Both parks have residents who live adjacent to them, and many were left frightened and intimidated by travellers turning up unannounced and camping illegally on parkland.

“Removing illegal encampments is costly both in time and expense, and is usually followed by a clean up of the area, before it can be used again for its proper purpose.

“We felt there was no alternative but to construct these barriers that have largely been well received by locals.”

Coun Small added that the council is looking at also introducing the measures at other “potentially vulnerable” sites