'Caravan proof' fence to stop travellers

Reporter: Kirsty Rigg
Date online: 28 April 2009

Travellers who pitched up on a football field have cost the Rochdale tax payer £5000 – for a “caravan proof” security fence to be built.

The unwanted visitors broke into St Clements Football Club last year, where they stayed for two weeks, before leaving 60 tonnes of rubbish behind them.

Rochdale Borough Council teamed up with the club, in Oakenrod, and decided to build the fence, which was finished on Saturday.

Rochdale Township paid £5000 from devolved funding, and the club raised a further £1500, totalling at £6,500.

Chairman of St Clements, Simon Lord, hopes the new fence will keep the club safe in the future.

He said: “They smashed the padlocks to get in last year, and caused disruption for two weeks before being moved on.

“The new fence is two metres high and is caravan proof; the gates are not big enough to let them through.

“I’m just glad it is done, and I’m thankful to Rochdale Borough Council for the help we’ve had."

Chairman of Rochdale Township, Councillor William Hobhouse said: “I was there last year when the travellers were causing thousands of pounds of damage.

“It's been one of my top priorities for Oakenrod to ensure that there are no accessible gates and no breakable padlocks into the playing fields.

“It has been a pleasure to work with the club on this project and ensure that £5,000 of Rochdale Township Devolved money has come the Club's way.

“Let's keep our fingers crossed for the future."

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen thanked Simon Lord for initially raising the issue with him.

He said: “I am delighted that a new fence has been put in place to help deal with the problem of illegal travellers.

"I would like to thank Simon Lord for raising this issue with me, the Councillors who have supported local residents in their cause and also Rochdale Township for providing the £5,000 for the new fence."