Bridgend Council ordered the caravan owners to leave the site after sports teams and the wider community were left without their field
Around 13 caravans and up to 20 cars appeared at the site on Monday(Image: WalesOnline)
A group of Travellers who set up camp illegally on a football pitch in Bridgend and reportedly subjected locals to abuse and intimidation have left the site, the council has confirmed. Around 13 caravans and up to 20 cars first appeared on Litchard playing fields on Monday, June 15.
In an update on Friday evening the council confirmed that the last caravan has moved away from the site. The statement reads: “As of 7.10pm the last caravan has left the site at Litchard Playing Fields.
“Council crews proactively turned up after hearing that the first travellers started to leave and the initial clean-up operation started within seconds of the last caravan leaving.”
It came after Bridgend Council said it served a legal direction similar to an eviction notice, which required the removal of all vehicles and other property within 24 hours of the notice being served, but the Travellers initially refused to leave.
Litchard FC, which is based at the playing fields in Bridgend, had previously shared that the “sight of caravans, motorhomes and vehicles spread across our playing fields has left many of our members frustrated and disappointed”. The club said the encampment meant hundreds of its young people, along with the wider community, were unable to enjoy the playing fields as they usually would.
Local councillor Martin Williams visited the site earlier on Friday and said he was subjected to abuse and threatening behaviour.
The caravans and motorhomes have now left(Image: Litchard FC)
“I went to see what was happening and took a photo of the mess that was being left when I was confronted by a group of Travellers threatening to ‘spark me out’,” he said. “I experienced first hand what residents are experiencing.”
A statement shared by the council earlier on Friday read: “Under section 77 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, the council served a legal direction similar to an eviction notice which required the removal of all vehicles and other property within 24 hours of the notice being served.
“As the encampment is still currently in place, the council has now applied for an order under Section 78 of the Act. This will enable the council to instruct High Court Enforcement Officers to remove the vehicles, and any obstruction of this process would constitute a criminal offence.
“An urgent hearing was requested and the council has been informed that it will take place on Monday afternoon (June 22) at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court. The council will carry out an inspection of the site once the caravans have been removed.”
A spokesman for South Wales Police previously said: “South Wales is aware of an encampment on council land at the Litchard playing fields. We are working with Bridgend County Borough Council and will continue to monitor developments.”
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