Travellers’ camp blocks parking at Halesowen women’s FA Cup tie | OneFootball

A travellers’ camp blocked parking for Halesowen Town’s women’s FA Cup tie at The Grove, forcing 199 supporters to park elsewhere.

According to ExpressAndStar.com, several caravans and accompanying trucks arrived on Friday on land off Old Hawne Lane owned by the James Grove Recreation Ground Trust. Police and the council attended that night and on Saturday, but officers declined to use powers to move the group on because of the size of the incursion, so the land was unavailable for parking.

The preliminary tie went ahead and Halesowen beat Kingfisher Women 4-0 to reach the next round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, with Imogen Butler scoring three, alongside Niamh Murphy.

Beforehand, Belle Vue ward councillor Simon Phipps said the group told authorities they would leave the next morning, though they did not appear in a rush. He added that groups were heading to a large religious festival off Illey Lane in Bromsgrove District, which marshals said was due to last five days from the following day.

He later said the encampment had left and the trust had locked the gates, adding that the council would be asked to help clear rubbish bags left behind.

Phipps said that if they did not leave as claimed, the trust would have to start civil proceedings to evict them and reclaim the land with council support. He argued the law gives landowners little power, that authorities’ powers are heavily caveated, and called for change as clean-up costs would hit charity funds for local sport and recreation.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com

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