THE arrival of a group of travellers has been causing concern in Wollaston.

Four caravans with Irish number plates have parked up outside the village hall in Bridgnorth Road.

Wollaston councillor Nic Barlow said Dudley Council has been informed and officers were due to visit the site this afternoon to “politely ask” the group of around 15 people to move on.

He said: “I’m very much aware and concerned about the situation and just hope they’re going to move away quickly. They’ve just parked up on the grass – they’re not even on the car park.”

The travellers are believed to have set up camp on Sunday.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “They’ve been there two days with no signs of leaving. There is litter strewn around the makeshift camp site and they have been playing loud music throughout the day time.”

Councillor Gaye Partridge, Dudley’s cabinet member for housing, told the News: “We have visited the site and advised the travellers they need to leave. At the same time we are starting possession proceedings and using the powers we have to get things back to normal as quickly as possible.

“People are right to be concerned when others illegally gain access to spaces like parks and the costs that this brings, but we would like to assure everyone we are doing everything we can to deal with these matters swiftly and appropriately.”

She said a court date was expected early next week to force the removal of the travellers from the site should they fail to leave and she added: "Senior politicians and police will be meeting to review how we all deal with these types of incidents in the future.”