READERS will be aware of the continued problems of travellers on unauthorised sites around Bolton, including Hulton playing fields in my own ward. Residents continually complain to me about fly-tipping.

So you can imagine my delight when I read in the Bolton Evening News that the Leader of the Council, Cllr Mrs Ronson, believes that the use of powers contained within the 2003 Anti-Social Behaviour Act, which could protect sites from continued use by travellers, could be the way forward. Under these powers, police could be allowed to immediately remove/move on these people, or even arrest them, if they enter designated protected areas, like school playing fields and recreation grounds, such as Hulton playing fields, without the need to apply to the courts for an eviction notice.

My delight was short-lived though. I have just read that the executive member for social inclusion and community safety, Cllr John Rothwell, states that he and his party, including the Leader of the Council, I assume, are opposed to the Dispersal Order powers contained within the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill 2003, which allows people to be moved on.

Who am I to believe?

Does the left hand not know what the right hand is doing?

In his article, he claims that the Liberal Democrats believe that this act breaches the fundamental right to freedom of movement and assembly, and, in theory, the powers could be abused by the police. Well I ask the Liberal Democrats, what about the rights of the residents who have to continually suffer? What about the rights of the council tax payers whose money has to be spent to clean up after these people have left these sites?

Something needs to be done and the use of the powers contained within this act is the way forward. I for one will be certainly monitoring what the controlling Liberal Democrat group are doing about this issue.

Andy Morgan

(Councillor Hulton Ward)