Poulton Travellers safe, for now

A community of Irish Travellers, who have set up camp in Fylde and Wyre in Lancashire, have been told they can remain after a judge has eased injunctions against the Travellers after human rights issues were raised.

Temporary injunctions were granted against the Travellers, who have set up camp on land off Fairfield Road near Poulton and Lancaster Road in Preesall, meaning they can stay on the land pending planning applications, but are subject to certain restrictions.

Outraged neighbours say the judges' decisions are in favour of the travellers. One resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "I'm disappointed with the attitude of the judge. It's very much in the travellers' favour. It's been horrendous, they are ruining green land."

Blackpool County Court has ruled the Travellers in Fylde are not allowed to bring any more caravans onto the site, they cannot let waste accumulate, deposit further hardcore, or use the land for trade or business.

The travellers cannot develop the site but "can do all things reasonable to ensure adequate supply of drinking water". The court also ruled that they are allowed to bring on to the land and use propane gas cylinders of up to 47kg, subject to a total limit of three per caravan and that generators can also be used after the judge removed a condition of the order relating to noise nuisance.

Steve Collins, a Traveller from the Fylde site where there are 30 caravans, said: "We need the generators because some people are on ventilators. They need electricity 24-hours-a-day to save their lives. We have asked for a postcode to get electricity onto the land.

But local residents have set up a fighting fund to take the community to court.The Local Residents' and Business Association wants to raise £15,000 to pay solicitors fees to try to have a camp site moved off.

Members have delivered hundreds of letters in the areas of Poulton, Staining, Singleton and Hardhorn, urging people to support their cause after the community set up their site in November.

An anonymous spokesman for the residents' group, said: "At the end of the day these people need a place to live but it's wrong that it's here.

"What concerns us is these people are living on the land without planning permission. We are prepared to spend our own money helping the council, and because this is countryside and green fields."