The sports field opposite Halesowen College's Whittingham Road campus is being inhabited by a group of travellers.

The travelling community which previously resided at Hurst Green Park, Perryfields High School and the Brickhouse Estate have now moved opposite Halesowen College on its sports pitches on Whittingham Road. 

Nearby residents witnessed travellers moving onto the College’s sports field on Monday night and are eager that authorities will be able to move them as soon as possible. 

However Belle Vale Councillor Ian Cooper has said that “Police tell us it will take five days to move them on”. 

An injunction is set to be invoked against the travellers and local residents have expressed their concern at the situation with many being retired and elderly. 

This recent occurrence of travellers within the region comes after it was announced yesterday that playing fields in West Bromwich will be secured after travellers were moved off the site for the fourth time in 18 months. 

Sandwell Council will pay for a raised earth mound to be put up around the perimeter of the sports pitches at Schofield Avenue and Wyntor Lane. It is hoped this will stop the travellers from situating their again. 

The Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and economic investment, Councillor Paul Moore has said, “following a large number of ASB reports, travellers were evicted from the site by the police last Tuesday (26th July) using a section 61 order.

He added, “We have a large number of green spaces in Sandwell, and each has its own difficulties in securing, but we are looking at ways we can do this across the borough.”

Mr Moore confirmed that the work to secure the site in West Bromwich will initially cost £15,000 to the council.