Bolton Council to visit Barlow Park Travellers today

The five-caravan strong group moved in on Tuesday evening (September 24), taking up along the Southern edge of Barlow Park Playing Field in Astley Bridge.

(Image: Dan Dougherty)

Astley Bridge Cllrs Toby Hewitt and Hilary Fairclough have been active in working to have the group moved on, quickly contacting the council liaison and requesting they begin the process.

A Bolton Council spokesperson said: “If the travellers are still there when we visit the camp later today the normal process will proceed.”

Cllr Hewitt confirmed the group were indeed still there, meaning they will be subject to a removal order.

Cllr Fairclough confirmed that the council had undertaken a welfare check on the group, which found they were all healthy and safe.

The removal process takes several days to complete once the court order has been issued.

Over recent months Travellers have set up camp across the borough, including in Harwood and Breightmet.

Clean-up operations have had to take place as a result, with some residents in Breightmet say they felt intimidated by the group.

The Bolton News recently revealed Town hall chiefs have spent more than £19,000 to remove Travellers from their land.

The Bolton News submitted a Freedom of Information Request following a number of unauthorised Traveller encampments in and around Bolton in recent weeks and months.

The money spent covers the past two years, but almost all of the costs have fallen within a single year.