Birchwood residents voice concern over traveller site

The encampment was established off Ordnance Avenue on Wednesday, October 26.

According to Cheshire West and Chester county council, the group was given permission to temporarily stay on the site.

One resident claimed he was 'nearly ran over' in Birchwood by one of the vehicles from the encampment (Image: Facebook)

A group of seven caravans were reported to the council when the site was first established nearly two weeks ago.

Since the unauthorised encampment was first set up, another report was made for caravans near the skate park in Birchwood Forest Park, but that report has since disappeared from the county council's website.

On Monday, November 7, one member of the public took to social media to voice their concerns.

Posting to Facebook, the resident said: "This is getting serious now.

"Myself and my dog have nearly been run over twice in Birchwood Forest Park.

"Get something done. I have reported this officially, but the public needs to be aware."

Another resident commented: "This happened to us last week [when out] dog walking."

A number of unauthorised traveller encampments have been established in Warrington over the past two months, which led many residents to question Warrington Borough Council's progress on the creation of a transit site for travellers.

When questioned about progress on the site, a Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: "We are continuing to work with our partners to identify a suitable traveller transit site in the borough.

"The need for this is fully established in the submitted proposed local plan that was subject to examination in public in September.”

The council was pressed to give a timetable for the installation of a transit site - and was also asked about the £2 million that was earmarked for the project in 2015 - but Warrington Borough Council declined to comment further.