Travellers force children's football club to cancel 14 matches over safety fears

CHILDREN were left disappointed after travellers forced the cancellation of fourteen football matches by parking caravans next to the youngsters' playing fields.

Travellers set up caravans by the playing fieldsAPEX

Travellers set up their caravans by the playing fields

The football juniors were banned from playing over safety fears because they would have had to walk through the travellers' camp to get to their changing rooms.

About 10 caravans arrived at the King George V playing fields car park in Topsham Road, Exeter, Devon on Friday.

Nigel Parker, the Central Youth Football Club chairman, described the situation as "irritating".

"They are parked next to the changing rooms. I couldn't take the risk," he said.

The site has a number of full-sized football pitches, a youth rugby pitch and a children's playground.

APEX

Local Labour councillor Marcel Choules accused the travellers of "ruining" the youngsters' fun and causing "disruption".

He added: "I've heard they've got dogs running round on the playing fields and making mess.

"If they were any other members of the public they would be given antisocial behaviour orders. But travellers seem invincible.

"It's disastrous that the football matches have had to be cancelled as a result."

A spokesman for Exeter City Council, which owns the site, said they had attended for an initial inspection.

Earlier this month travellers were ousted from Harlow in Essex after a landmark ruling banned them from all areas of the town.

The ban protects 454 “parcels of land” and followed months of ground work by lawyers and officials.

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