MORE than £12,000 of Cheshire West and Chester Council money has been spent dealing with illegal traveller encampments in Northwich this year.

The costs, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act from 16 unauthorised sites up until August 21, included spending of £8,517 on clean-up and £3,850 on council officers’ time and court costs – a total of £12,367.

While the council was unable to provide costs from previous years, the number of encampments rose from five apiece in 2014, 2015 and 2016, to six in 2017 and 16 this year up to August 21.

Since then, further encampments have been moved on from places such as Chinkers Field and Leftwich Green. Some areas are taking steps to protect public land with fencing or grass mounds.

Northwich Town Council and CWAC member for Winnington and Castle, Cllr Sam Naylor, said the ‘barricading’ of the town’s green spaces has become a last resort after the summer’s spike in encampments.

Cllr Naylor said: “One of the consequences of what we have had to endure throughout this summer is the mess that is left behind.

“There is no getting away from it – CWAC ratepayers have had to pick up the bill to make good the sites where encampments have been staying.

“Until CWAC can provide a dedicated transit site we are faced with the prospect of similar problems in the future.

“The only way we can stop it is to create a ‘fortress Northwich’. I don’t particularly want to see effective barricades on some of our open spaces.”

The council has submitted plans for a traveller transit site, which would provide a location in Ellesmere Port to move encampments onto.

It will be decided by CWAC’s planning committee on October 24, in public at the Ellesmere Port Civic Hall and broadcast live online.

Cllr Naylor added: “All we need to do is provide this legislation-dictated permanent transit site. Then the authorities will have the power to stop it.

“The council’s clean-up teams have worked tremendously hard in what is not a pleasant task. I have to take my off to individuals who have taken it upon themselves to put the gloves on, get out and tidy up. They are to be applauded, but residents shouldn’t have to do that.

“We have got to work with the travelling community to address the issues that do get people’s backs up. It’s about the sensitivity of the situation.”

Half of the Northwich encampments logged this year pitched up on council land, with half on private land.

Council costs were provided for the eight on public land and one on private, with the largest figure amounting to £2,056 at the 40-caravan Saxons Lane site from June 28 to July 4.

A meeting between Northwich councillors, Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury and the police took place in August, when residents’ concerns were shared between the parties present.

Ch Insp Simon Meegan said: “The local authority and police have established arrangements in respect of any unauthorised Gypsy, Roma or Traveller encampment.

“Any new encampments are jointly assessed by the police and the local authority Cheshire and Warrington Traveller Team, in accordance with statutory duties and legislation.

“This year, police have issued Directions to Leave Land in the Northwich area where appropriate, in addition to a number of orders obtained by Cheshire West and Chester council and private landowners.

“We will continue to work with our communities and partners to manage the welfare and safety of individuals and families from both settled and Travelling communities.”