Police have removed a 'massive' traveller camp in Leeds which was reported to have terrorised the locality by allegedly throwing "rocks, branches and fence posts" at passing traffic.
In the aftermath of the eviction, heaps of rubbish were left strewn across the field and a fence was left badly damaged. Children from the camp were throwing the items, according to a Leeds City Councillor.
There were 25 caravans by Morwick Farm on new A64 York Road roundabout between Whinmoor and Scholes in the Harewood ward, which were removed yesterday (Sunday, April 30).
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The travellers arrived on Friday and it is believed they came from an even bigger camp of 50 caravans who had settled in John Smeaton Playing Field, evicted after cutting through the gate and fence and blocking the highway. These illegal camps are but a few of the many which have settled in fields off the new East Leeds Orbital Road (ELOR) in the last four months.
The ELOR, the 7km dual carriageway between Red Hall and Thorpe Park, opened in August last year and Leeds City Councillor Sam Firth (C, Harewood) says he has called for more obstructions to fields since even before it was built.
Cllr Firth said: "There was a massive camp. I'm incredibly frustrated access hasn't been blocked off from various easy access roads from a brand new duel carriageway.
"There have been 13 illegal camps in the space of four months off the East Leeds Orbital Road and we have to do something about it. If we don't take action now, this will only continue. No one should throw anything at passing traffic and unfortunately we're in a situation where safety comes first."
Councillor Sam Firth is acting as an agent for the Conservative and Unionist Part in Harewood ward in the upcoming local elections. Candidates include Dan Cook (Liberal Democrats), Claire Evans (Green Party), Oliver Gill (Labour Party), Ryan Stephenson (Conservative and Unionist Party).
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