COUNCILLORS are urging borough chiefs to step up their efforts in tackling illegal gypsy and traveller encampments.

Northwich has been hit with more than a dozen encampments in recent weeks – including on Leftwich Green during the most recent bank holiday, and in Winnington last week.

Cllr Gaynor Sinar, Conservative Cheshire West and Chester Council member for Davenham and Moulton, has submitted a motion for a working group to look at improving the council’s current policy on gypsies and travellers.

“Whatever is in place at the council is probably not good enough for how things are escalating,” she said.

“The transit site is going to be a good thing but it has got to go somewhere and there is not going to be a queue of people wanting it next to them.”

Cllr Sam Naylor, Labour member for Winnington and Castle, has welcomed the move for a transit site following the encampment in his ward.

“Travellers tend to know which authorities have got sites and which have not,” he said.

“If we have got one it will be much better for cleanliness issues – that has been the problem in Northwich.

“There was rubbish left behind, and that has cost the ratepayer because the council spent half a day clearing it up.”

Cllr Sinar will be at a residents’ meeting to discuss plans to protect Leftwich Green from illegal encampments at Emmanuel Church, in Old Hall Road, from 7.30pm to 8.30pm tomorrow, July 12. All are welcome.