8:30am Wednesday 1st October 2008
By Jayne Bennett
TRAVELLERS ordered to move off land on Stinchcombe Hill have moved on to other sites, causing more worries for residents elsewhere in the area.
Their double decker bus, which was a familiar sight on Stinchcombe Hill, has now reappeared at Baynham Hill, Blanchworth, which has been occupied by travellers for about three years.
Other travellers have returned to land near the Old London Road, Wotton, which they have occupied in the past.
In order to access this land, the travellers pushed through an earth-pile barrier, put down to discourage re-entry to the camp.
"I walk through the woods with my dogs," said one Wotton resident, who did not wish to be named.
"I was saddened to see the ‘so-called’ travellers have returned. Instead of watching the deer and other wonderful wildlife there is a growing number of vehicles spoiling the countryside.
"Last time they were here, trees were cut down to make way for a scrapyard. When these people left it took two skips to move their rubbish afterwards.
"Perhaps the farmer needs to do some muck-spreading nearby."
Dursley town councillor Brian Marsh has sympathy for those affected by the travellers’ move.
"We are in communication with the county council about this all the time, but it always takes time, and often money. Wherever they go, they leave a mess," he said.
Inspector Steve Templeton, of Dursley police, said he was aware of the travellers’ movements.
He said: "The main group have returned to Old London Road, although the bus and several other vehicles have been seen at Blanchworth.
"This may simply be that they can’t get it up to the other site. We can only act if the travellers’ are breaking the law in some way.
"I understand that the Wotton landowners are now taking out a civil action against the landowners."
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