PETITION Update: Press statement

PETITION Update: Re - Walsall Council Injunction, press statement sent out today. We across the Delves and the Yew Tree Communities have this year been visited by travellers on numerous occasions and unfortunately have experienced high levels of anti social activity, public disorder and nuisance. The detritus that has been left after they have moved on has been horrendous and the damage caused to the open spaces unacceptable. These are areas the community use and should be a safe environment to enjoy. We look forward to them being cleansed and free of rubbish and any dangers that may present themselves to residents, children and their pets. We very much welcome the actions of Walsall MBC in obtaining the injunctions they have and it fits part of the criteria of our widely publicised petition of 1351 signatures. We are pleased that the injunction has crossed both boroughs of Sandwell & Walsall, an issue that has caused problems in the past with the community being of the borders of both. It is certainly hoped that these injunctions if breached are enforced without any delay and hope that both Councils now have a Liaison Officer available over any weekends should the need arise. Our petition does ask for more partnership working between the two Councils and the Police and for the community to be better engaged in the future with clear communication given to them. Our petition is going in front of Committee at Sandwell MBC next week and we look forward to discussing further with them We have also suggested physical barriers to discourage and stop not just travellers encroaching on open spaces but to resolve parking issues outside of schools. There is a clear win/win situation if we can look at high containment kerbs and natural planting. If we can get the two communities of the Delves and the Yew Tree working together we could look at a funded pilot scheme to look at new ways to deal with this matter. There are plenty of positive opportunities for the future if we all work together.