Leverhulme Park: Travellers leave park after setting up camp

A large group emerged in Leverhulme Park on Monday last week.

But now they have  now left.

A week ago five caravans and numerous vehicles were spotted in the area.

Officers from Bolton Council visited later that day, carried out a welfare check and ordered the group to leave the area.

The caravans were set up in the northern part of the park away from the athletics track and community centre and near to residents on Long Lane.

A number of caravans left the following day and were seen enjoying a barbecue.

But some remained until Tuesday.

Now the group has dispersed completely from the area.

Some residents expressed concerned about the camp but others said they did not mind.

One nearby resident: “I don’t mind that’s just how they live and they're not doing anyone any harm I think just because we live in a house doesn’t give us the right to judge people that live in caravans, I take my hat off to them as they work together and pull together which unfortunately we don’t do as a society anymore.”

But another nearby resident took a different view.

She said shortly after their arrival: “My mum lives nearby, she messaged me at 1.30pm to say they have arrived.

“My husband is very concerned about this.

“He has reported it to the police and my neighbour has reported it to the council.

“They were having a barbecue after they arrived and they were at out in deck chairs.”

A Bolton Council spokesperson said the group had left this week.

Last October travellers set up on Kestor Street in The Haulgh.

The group was removed after a week following an eviction notice.