ALLERDALE council has been criticised by Workington MP Mark Jenkinson over the time it has taken to evict an illegal traveller encampment from Harrington Marina.

Mr Jenkinson said he has contacted the council on a number of occasions over the past few months in an attempt to resolve this issue, after being contacted by a large number of constituents whose lives have been affected by the encampment.

He is now pressing for council chief executive Andrew Seekings to implement a traveller strategy.

He said: "The impact of the encampment at the Harrington Marina has been extensive, with littering, disgusting human fouling and damaged property just some of the issues that have been left behind, and I have seen this first-hand."

He added that tax payers will have to bear the costs to make good the Marina and that he wanted the council to be far more pro-active in moving on illegal encampments so that communities are not affected.

He said: "Allerdale Borough Council tax payers will no doubt ultimately have to bear the costs to make good the impact this has had on the Marina. I have asked the Council to assess future options that might enable the restriction of access to the site by large vehicles such as caravans."

"I have requested that a strategy for travellers is drafted and my constituents and their welfare are put at the forefront of that strategy. Law abiding citizens who pay their taxes should not have their lives negatively impacted by illegal encampments.

"I want the council to become far more pro-active as regards moving on illegal encampments so our communities are not affected."

The traveller encampment has now moved to the Griffin Street car park next to Allerdale House.

A council spokesman said that after a site assessment was carried out to consider welfare issues and risks, they have taken the decision to serve notice on the encampment.

Ron Caffrey, Workington Sunday League Secretary took to social media to say that travellers have moved on to the small football pitch next to the car park and sports centre, which is preventing children from using it. He added: "That's the second football pitch this week in Allerdale that has been ruined by motor vehicles going over the grass."

A spokesman for the council said: "The council has always taken a pragmatic and proactive approach to the management of gypsies and travellers which balances our legal welfare duties towards the traveller community with meeting the needs and concerns of our local residents.

"Any action is carried out in accordance with the agreed Cumbria Joint Protocol for Unlawful Encampments, government guidance, our legal responsibilities as well as the local circumstances.

"Action on the recent site in Harrington was further complicated by the coronavirus outbreak and central government advice that we should do what is necessary to help prevent the spread of the disease, including provide additional support for gypsy and traveller communities. This meant the council had additional welfare obligations to consider, in addition to any that would have presented in ordinary circumstances. The pandemic has also meant restricted access to the courts earlier in the year.

"However, throughout the time that they were on the site, council officers and our partners kept in close contact with local residents and dealt with any issues and concerns raised as quickly and efficiently as possible. The community was consistently advised to report any other incidents that would be police matters using the 101 service via telephone or email.

"Our environmental teams have been out clearing the site in Harrington, now that the gypsies and travellers have left and we shall do what we can to block access to any possible future encampments on the site.

The council has identified a potential site for a permanent gypsy and traveller site in their Local Plan (Part 2) and they say work has begun on developing a revised needs assessment.

The spokesman added: "We will continue to investigate what funding is available from the Government that would assist us in managing and developing appropriate accommodation for the Gypsy and Traveller community in the future."

More can be found at: https://www.allerdale.gov.uk/en/housing/gypsies-and-travellers/"