FOOTBALL training and essential maintenance has come to a standstill after caravans were pitched on a football ground.

Travellers arrived on Walney Island FC’s mini football pitch on Tummer Hill on Wednesday evening.

After being made aware of their arrival, committee member and football manager Stephen McCullough arrived on the site and approached the group, however he claims they refused to move.

“We should have Under 6s and Under 7s playing football on that pitch on Saturday, which I explained to them,” said Stephen. “At the end of the day it's kids that are going to be missing out and suffering.

“It’s also a training facility for our whole football section but it's basically out of bounds now.

“We have junior teams, boys and girls, from six-years-old to 16, and three open age teams, our pre-season training was supposed to start next week and now it’s just been put on hold.”

There are also concerns over the state of the pitch once the caravans have gone and that there is not enough time to complete pitch maintenance before the start of the season, including grass cutting, top soiling, seeding and aerating the pitches.

Stephen said: “Are we going to be ready for the season starting? We don’t know.

“The open age season starts the first weekend of August but we’ll be having friendlies in July - or we’re supposed to.”

South Walney Labour councillor Frank Cassidy has visited the area several times after first hearing of the matter on Wednesday evening.

He said: “Members of the travelling community have a right to live their nomadic way of life but Walney residents also have rights and unauthorised camping is not allowed.

“It would appear that caravans and other vehicles arrived on the field around 6pm on Wednesday – that's an hour after town hall enforcement officers went off duty for the extended platinum jubilee celebrations.

“Residents are rightly concerned because several unpleasant incidents happened when travellers set up camp on Biggar Bank and elsewhere in April and May which saw the police becoming involved.

“Barrow police have told me they have been contacted a number of times by members of the public and officers will be visiting the site as soon as time allows.

“A senior Barrow council officer is investigating this development and wheels are in motion for appropriate actions to be taken. Beyond that a town hall briefing is in the pipeline to explore ways of finding a long-term solution to this issue.”

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