Barnard Castle businessman: I’m quitting because of traveller antics

A LOSS of customers because of an unlawful traveller camp has at least one dale businessman considering calling it a day.

NO RESPECT: This area of the industrial estate
in Barnard Castle was littered with human waste and
used toilet paper

Some 10 complaints were made to police when about 40 gypsy caravans set up camp at Harmire Enterprise Park, in Barnard Castle. Businesspeople say they lost customers because they felt intimidated by the large traveller presence.
There were also complaints of trees being felled for firewood, litter being left on site, customer parking being taken over and human waste being left behind.
Further complaints were made about travellers camping at Staindrop who also left rubbish and allowed their horses onto the yard of St Mary The Virgin Church.
Many of the designated traveller stopover sites in Teesdale were unused.
A businessman from Harmire said he plans to close his business because of the impact the travellers have had on his trade.
The man, who asked not to be named, said: “People feel intimidated because it is like the Bronx. I don’t understand when they have designated space that they are parking here. I couldn’t park my van outside and my customers couldn’t park here. I’m not being funny, but where is the policing here? The police should be down the estate and saying politely, ‘No, this is where,’ before they even get here. I spoke to the police. I was told it is a civil matter. I can’t believe someone interfering with a man earning a living is a civil matter.” He described the area behind his business as an “open toilet”.
Insp Kevin Tuck, of Teesdale Police, said that many of the camps were on private land which amounted to a civil trespass. He added: “Police engaged with gypsy and traveller families to ensure there was free passage along the highway and access to businesses. Many of the caravans were camped on the large private blocked paved areas owned by the enterprise park and this caused real concerns for business owners there. 

“Teesdale Residents and Travellers Forum has repeatedly suggested to the estate’s owners that problem solving and target hardening measures should be implemented to protect the units parking areas. On Monday afternoon a private bailiff issued ‘direction to leave notices’ to those present. While there have been no reports of crime or public disorder at Harmire the police will continue to monitor, direct free passage of the highway and the movement of carriages into Cumbria.”
Elsewhere, people in Staindrop were appalled by a mess caused when gypsies put their horses in the churchyard.

Resident Helen West said: “We feel that people should be made aware of the disgraceful state of the historical churchyard at St Mary's church in Staindrop. The travellers, not satisfied with tethering horses in the churchyard, also blocked the gate with their caravans making it impossible to pass.”
Staindrop vicar Revd Ken Steventon said the church warden had spoken to the travellers and the horses were moved out within an hour. He said the problems had been more serious in previous years.