A ‘MASSIVE review’ of the policies surrounding illegal travellers’ camps has been called for by an exasperated councillor.

Cllr Jean Gillies represents residents in Farnworth, who have seen a number of different groups set up camp on a football pitch near Fern Street over recent months.

Last Wednesday travellers moved several boulders intended to stop caravans being brought onto the field in order to gain access to it.

Another group then returned to the lower part of the site, near residents homes, despite being subject to a live court order banning them from doing so.

The first group moved on Tuesday evening, but had ignored a 24-hour eviction notice served by the council and a court order instructing them to leave the site.

Travellers at field by Cawdor Avenue in Farnworth speak out

Council officials have struggled to enforce eviction notices and court orders as police have often not been available due to resourcing issues.

Councillor Gillies said: “It does need a massive review, it’s not fair, the damage they are causing, and the general public are picking up the tab. We should have more powers of enforcement but we are limited to what we can do. And when a gypsies leader turns round and says ‘the police can’ t do anything, we are staying’, it says it all.

“The frustrating thing about this is I have made some further enquiries and some areas of GMP say it is a priority, other areas in GMP get treated differently to us. It’s not right. There should either be one rule for everybody, but I totally understand they are stretched.

She continued: “We need a policy where we know what’s happening. As a council we are limited within the law with what we can do. We do everything we can but just don’t have the backup to move them.”

But Cllr Gillies added it was not just the role of the police in moving travellers on that needed looking at again.

She said: “This is what happens when the government makes cuts. There are more important things that take priority, but in the meantime we pick up the tab. The longer they are here the more mess they make and the more mess they make the more it costs the council."

She continued: “We should have more powers of enforcement, we are limited as to what we can do and when a gypsies leader turns round and says ‘the police can’t do anything, we are staying’ it says it all.

“It needs a massive political review it needs changing in law, but only the government can do that.”

Responding to Cllr Gillies comments, a Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “The local authority lead on civil matters such as encampments or trespassing with the support of Greater Manchester Police if any orders need to be enforced or any criminal matters have taken place.

“A joined up assessment of the most appropriate and balanced response will take place at the request of the local authority, only once the established protocols have been followed and varying approaches have proved unsuccessful.

They continued: “Consideration is then given to whether or not significant police action is necessary.

Each Greater Manchester Police borough has different issues which affect what incidents are prioritised and any incident reported to GMP is assessed on the information available to determine what response is required.

"Those with the greatest potential of threat, harm and risk will take priority during any on-going incident.

“If anyone does feel a criminal offence has taken place, they should contact police on 101 or, in an emergency, 999.”