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Travellers move onto BMX track
By Tony Gardner TRAVELLERS have set up camp on a children's BMX track. Wakefield Council have promised to take swift action after a dozen caravans camped on land next to a primary school in Cutsyke, Castleford.
It is the second time in a week that action has been taken in the Wakefield district after travellers also moved onto prime development land near Wakefield city centre.
People living next to the site said travellers moved onto the bike track over the weekend.
The illegal camp is also a stone's throw from Ackton Pastures Primary School.
One resident, who asked not to be named, said: "It is the second time they have been on this land in recent years and it is a good job the school children are away for the Easter holidays. The last time they came it caused real problems.
"There has been noise late at night and dogs roaming around the site but things have not been as bad as last time.
"We just hope the site is cleared before the situation can get worse."
Wakefield Council leader Coun Peter Box said: "We are extremely disappointed that travellers have set up this illegal camp on land used by local children, especially when Wakefield Council provides one of the largest authorised gipsy and traveller sites in the country just a couple of miles away at Heath Common.
Bishop
"I can reassure people that action to move the travellers off this land has already started and they've been served the necessary legal notices.
"We fully understand the frustrations of the local community and will resolve this as quickly as the statutory process allows."
Meanwhile, in Wakefield, it was a case of "while the Bishop's away, the horses will play".
A Shetland pony from the travellers camp near Wakefield city centre managed to get into the garden belonging to Church House – Wakefield Cathedral's administrative base, on South Parade.
The Bishop of Wakefield, the Rt Rev Stephen Platten, was not at Church House yesterday and was preparing to conduct the Royal Maundy Service at the city's cathedral today.
The miniature horse was spotted frolicking and "helping to fertilise the lawn" in gardens belonging to several organisations based along the row of exclusive Georgian terraced properties.
A spokesman for Church House said the pony had gone.
The travellers in Wakefield have been given a week to leave the site on Ings Road after setting up camp on the former JCT600 showrooms.
Solicitors acting on behalf of the company have served the travellers with legal documents.
tony.gardner@ypn.co.uk
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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