Council in legal action bid to move travellers from Carmarthen Leisure Centre

LEGAL action is being taken to force travellers who have set up camp at Carmarthen Leisure Centre to move on.

Five caravans and vehicles have been parked on land within the car park in Llansteffan Road, Johnstown, since Thursday.

When approached by the Journal on Friday one of the travellers said they would leave soon.

They assured the county council they would be gone by Monday.

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But as they have failed to leave, Head of Housing Robin Staines said the authority would now be seeking a court order.

Carmarthen mayor Phil Grice says they need to leave because the leisure centre is in constant use by the public.

He said: "These travellers are not welcome at all in our community. They have been there nearly seven days.

"I want to see the police and county council act quickly to move them on."

Dyfed-Powys Police said they had spoken to them.

Carmarthen Police Sergeant Mark McSweeney is reassuring residents living along Llansteffan Road and surrounding housing estates that regular patrols are being carried out.

He said: "Officers from the local neighbourhood policing team have been down to the site.

"We are providing reassurance patrols for anyone in the community who may be concerned."

Mr Staines said: "We served a direction order on Friday which asked the travellers to leave the site as soon as was reasonably practical. We were assured that they would be leaving Monday morning.

"As they have failed to move on, we will now apply for a court order to allow us to move them off the land. We have closely monitored the site over the weekend and have kept in constant communication with the travellers. We have used all options available to us."