COUNCIL chiefs are set to adopt new far-reaching proposals to deal with Warrington's travellers problem.

The policy has been proposed to tackle the financial and legal ordeal created by the itinerant community which has cost the town thousands of pounds in clean up operations and injunctions.

The council has vowed to continue its policy of quickly repossessing land and evicting trespassers and detering occupation with measures such as barriers and earth mounds.

But the new measures, aimed at keeping up the pressure on the travelling community, include appointing bailiffs to remove unwanted visitors and to gather information on their movements. A public awareness campaign will also be launched highlighting the effects travellers have on the community.

Clr Mike Hannon, chairman of Community Services, said: "We want to show the public the positive steps the council is taking to deal with the everyday problems caused by the travellers. We are doing all we can to address concerns caused by the itinerant community."

Clr Terry O'Neill stressed the importance of developing a uniform approach to the problem and working closely with the courts, the police and the private sector.

The proposals, approved by Community Services on Tuesday night, look set to be rubber stamped by the Full Policy Committee early next month.

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