Crime Commissioner urged to help tackle Kingsway Park traveller problem

Travellers setting up camp on Rochdale’s Kingsway Business Park have prompted councillors to call for help from Greater Manchester Police & Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd.

Mr Lloyd was making a presentation at Wednesday’s full Rochdale Council meeting and was asked by councillors for assistance in evicting the travellers from the 420-acre development.

Councillor Daalat Ali, who represents the Kingsway ward, explained he firmly believed in traveller’s rights but believes it is in the best interests to remove them from the business park.

“We do not want to really set a precedent,” he said.

“There has to be some sort of rational way forward.

“They have got rights too but they have got no right to make life uncomfortable for other residents.”

Rochdale Council can only move travellers on after securing a court order, which usually takes a few days to attain.

Instead, the travellers are just moving to a different part of the site, which councillors say is making them look ridiculous.

There are also reports of violence and intimidation towards neighbouring residents.

Police can fully, and immediately, remove travellers from Kingsway Park but say they lack the resources, leading to the calls to Mr Lloyd for help.

Mr Lloyd said he was going to raise the matter with the local neighbourhood group to see what was going on.

He had no further comment to make until he had established further what the issue is.