Council granted interim injunction to prevent unauthorised 'traveller encampments'

Travellers on Cronkeyshaw Common

Rochdale Borough Council has been granted an interim injunction which prevents unauthorised traveller encampments from settling on any land within the borough.

The interim order, the first of its kind in Greater Manchester, was granted at the High Court on Monday.

The order names 82 individuals but applies to anyone. It means that there will now be less delay in dealing with unauthorised traveller encampments, which will reduce the adverse impact on residents and businesses.

At the hearing the council explained how there had been 133 unauthorised encampments across the borough in the past three years.

During that period the council had dealt with numerous complaints from residents and businesses about:

• Noise and antisocial behaviour
• Violence, threats and intimidation
• Commercial scale flytipping
• Defecation on land accessed by the public

This process does not affect the facilities that the council provides at its designated sites that cater for authorised traveller encampments. 

A further hearing to decide whether a permanent order should be granted is expected to be held later in the year.