Harrogate Borough Council
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7 August 2008 ONCE again travellers are moving from
site to site around the Harrogate district. So
far this year they have set up unauthorised encampments at Ripon
Race Course, Cowthorpe, Castley, Plumpton, the Yorkshire
Showground, Dragon Road car park, Harrogate, land off Park Lane
Knaresborough, Ribston/Pannal and Hopperton.
The travellers are working in the area offering services such
as tree pruning, block paving and jet washing of drives and
conservatories and the Leader of Harrogate Borough Council,
Councillor Mike Gardner, joins local police in urging residents not
to employ these and other casual labourers, as not only does it
encourage them to stay in and return to the area but they
themselves run the risk of being held liable for the dumping of
trade waste.
He said: "This council already provides static sites for
genuine travellers. The Government has given new
powers to local authorities to tackle the problems caused once
these temporary sites are vacated including the costly removal of
much of the trade waste generated by the
travellers.
"Most of this rubbish comes from households where the
travellers have perhaps felled trees or re-laid drives and the
general tax payer is having to pay for its
removal. Residents often do not realise that
their address details are used when these casual labourers buy
goods from DIY stores and builders merchants and then illegally fly
tip the invoices with the other waste they create when undertaking
work on the resident's behalf.
"They may be a cheap option but residents should be aware that
they are at risk of breaching their householders' waste duty of
care requirements. These are in place to ensure
controlled waste produced on their property is passed to an
authorised person and less likely to end up fly-tipped, which is
what is happening at the moment at the sites where the travellers
have visited. So as well as bringing action
against the travellers who fly-tip, any resident found in breach of
their duty of care is liable to a fixed £300 penalty fine or
if convicted in the courts the fine could go up to
£5,000."
There are currently 23 vans with towing vehicles, dogs, ponies
and occupants on private land at Hopperton. This
group had previously been evicted from Park Lane at
Knaresborough. The landowner has a possession
hearing listed at 10.00am on Friday 8 August.
High Court sheriffs will give one hour to vacate the land once the
Order is obtained on Friday
The council would urge residents to ensure that any one they
employ is registered for the disposal of trade
waste. Details of licensed waste carriers are
available from the Environment Agency on 08708 506506 or via the
web at
www2.environment-agency.gov.uk/epr/search.asp.
ENDS