Clear up starts at traveller site

Travellers set up home on the Tingley football pitch

Council workers are starting a clear-up operation at a former travellers site in Tingley, Leeds.

At least 100 travellers moved onto a football pitch in Spinkwell Lane in May but started to leave after a High Court judge made an order for possession.

A Leeds City Council spokesman said 40 skips had already been filled with left-over belongings and the pitch would need to be returfed.

"It is a quagmire. There is a lot of stuff to move," he said.

Registered sites

The spokesman added it would cost at least £5,000 to move the skips and sort out the pitch.

"We don't know where the travellers have moved to but we do have several registered travellers sites in Leeds where they can go," he said.

Councillor Les Carter, executive board member with responsibility for travellers issues, said if nearby areas such as Calderdale and Kirklees had similar sites there would not be so much pressure on the Leeds facilities.

"I'm pleased the judge recognised the importance of granting us possession straight away, rather than waiting for the appeals process.

"I hope people in Spinkwell Lane will finally get their lives back to normal."