MEMBERS of the travelling community who have set up an encampment on Walney have been paid a visit by the council.

Public Protection Officers from Barrow Borough Council visited the site, located in an area of Biggar Bank, to carry out assessments.

According to the council, the travellers arrived on land just off Biggar Bank Road on Sunday.

A nearby resident says that they witnessed the arrival of a number of caravans over the weekend.

“I was there when they turned up,” he said.

“They set up some dog kennels and outside furniture. That was Sunday dinnertime.

“On Monday all the vehicles were missing but the dogs were tied up in the rain.

“I can tell you from experience they usually appear around April to mid-May. The site is clean at the moment but they are churning up the grass.”

Since the arrival, officers have carried out a welfare and needs assessment, as well as a comprehensive risk assessment.

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The council have confirmed that the site will be attended frequently to ensure the tidiness of the site during the travellers ‘limited stay’ A Barrow Borough Council spokesperson said: “Barrow Borough Council can confirm that members of the travelling community arrived on land just off Biggar Bank Road on Sunday 2nd April 2022.

“Public Protection Officers have engaged with the travellers and have carried out a welfare and needs assessment as well as a comprehensive risk assessment in line with the “Cumbria Joint Agency Protocol for Responding to Unauthorised Encampments”.

“Officers working with partner agencies will attend the site frequently to ensure the site remains tidy during their limited stay.”

Cumbria Police confirmed that they were liaising with their partners at the council.

A spokesman said: “We are aware of the situation and are liaising with our partners at Barrow Borough Council.”

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