Illegal traveller encampment STILL parked in layby near Northamptonshire village

An illegal traveller encampment is still parked up in a layby near a Northamptonshire village after they promised to leave last month (February).

The same two motorhomes have been camped in the layby on Banbury Lane, between Hunsbury Meadows and Rothersthorpe, since Wednesday, February 24.

Police and Northamptonshire County Council's Countywide Traveller Unit visited the site on February 24 where they were told by travellers that they will leave on the weekend of February 27 - 28.

However, that promise has been broken and the county council's traveller unit said last week it would "look to start the usual process with a view to moving them on" if they were not gone by the specified time.

Then, last Monday (March 1), a Northamptonshire County Council Countywide Traveller Unit spokeswoman said: “We are aware of this small encampment with just two vehicles and are carrying out the usual statutory assessment process to determine the best course of action.”

The Countywide Traveller Unit has been contacted for an update about the situation and its plan of action.

Just 100 yards down the road towards Hunsbury Meadows there is also a heavily fly-tipped field, which is possibly one of the worst hit areas in the town.

Within the mess there is standard plastic waste and litter, but also bigger items including sofas, a fridge, bins, a washing machine, a baby's pram, a mattress, garden waste and much more.

Northampton Borough Council has been contacted for comment over the fly-tipping mess.

Back in September last year, an unauthorised traveller encampment pitched up at a different location in Banbury Lane, which led to residents in Pineham Locks saying they feel "afraid" of walking past.

One resident described last year's encampment as "like a small town", after more than 20 caravans were at the site.