Travellers who have parked up at Woodhall Playing Fields could soon be evicted.
Leeds Magistrates’ Court will consider Leeds City Council’s case for evicting the travellers on Fiday, 6 August, after the travellers moved onto the land last week, sparking local concerns that the playing field could be damaged during persistent rain.
Councillor Andrew Carter (Cons, Calverley and Farsley) has expressed his delight that council officers have now taken steps to remove the travellers’ encampment.
Cllr Carter said:
“I am delighted to say that, finally, Leeds City Council have a court date for the trespass case they have brought for the eviction of the 12 travellers’ caravans that are currently camped on the Woodhall Playing Fields. The case is due to be heard this coming Friday, 6 August.
”Let’s hope there is then immediate action to remove the caravans before the playing fields are badly damaged.
“The Council’s plans to create a range of all-weather sports facilities on this site through the countrywide Park Life Scheme, have already been approved, and the sooner this is progressed now, the better. The scheme is due to go out to tender in the autumn and will bring to fruition a sports and parks facility across the whole of this land.”
The proposals include a new one-storey pavilion housing a variety of facilities, as well as three floodlit artificial grass pitches.
18 football teams from Calverley, Farsley, Pudsey and Stanningley currently use the pitches at Woodhall and all of them will be permitted to use the new facilities.