Residents concerned over Traveller camp

CRAIGAVON residents are convinced they are the victims of a conspiracy.

Legahory residents watched on in shock as Travellers moved onto a restricted area of land in central Craigavon.

Their jaws then hit the ground when the very same authority that put the restrictions in place to stop camps forming then provided toilet facilities for the Travellers who had taken up residence.

The green space in Legahory had been used, illegally, by the Travellers for years before they were moved off and huge boulders put around the border of the area preventing access.

The Travellers have found a way onto the area and set up a camp, leaving residents dismayed.

"It's been relative peace since they put the boulders in," said one resident.

"For over five years now we have had to live with the Travellers on our doorsteps and it was a godsend when the Housing Executive put a stop to it.

"Now we can't rest, there are generators going on through the night outside our windows.

"Cars and vans are running across the grass outside our home, we are all at our wits end."

He went on: "This is phase two of the Housing Executive's plan to drive the last remaining residents out of Legahory.

"Why spend thousands putting in these boulders just to go back and hand out portable toilets when they manage to get past them - it makes no sense.

"The Travellers moved in after 6pm on a Friday night when all the offices were closed and when I rang the next Monday about it and we were told staff were off.

"It's all very convenient."

A spokeswoman for the Housing Executive said: "Members of the Traveller community have recently moved onto Housing Executive land at Burnside.

"The Housing Executive is obliged under the Co-operation Policy to provide sanitation and waste disposal facilities for the families.

"This is a highly sensitive issue and the Housing Executive is sympathetic to the concerns and needs of everyone involved. Residents can be assured of the Housing Executive’s commitment to work with other agencies including the Traveller Support Group in Craigavon, to resolve this issue."

Meanwhile a pile of rubble dumped in the area has still to be lifted.

In April the 'MAIL' reported on how Legahory residents had been waiting over a month to get a pile of rubble dumped on their doorsteps removed.

Residents said two lorry loads of building materials had been dumped in the area late one night.

Despite pleas for the rubbish to be collected the mess remains.

The Roads Service and the council have clashed over who is responsible for lifting the material.

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