COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Security beefed up at a former Warwickshire colliery after caravans were finally moved on



A group of travellers were spotted moving onto Warwickshire Shopping Park yesterday.

According to reports, a number of caravans, a campervan and other vehicles were seen on the car park near M&S at the retail park in Binley at around 2.10pm.

West Midlands Police were notified.

A spokesperson said: “We had a report last night of a number of caravans, a campervan and some other vehicles pulling onto a car park at Warwick Retail Park in Binley around 2.10pm.

“Police are aware.”

The Telegraph have contacted Warwickshire Shopping Centre for comment.

This marks the third sighting of travellers in the past week.

Around seven caravans drove onto the Queen Elizabeth Road recreation ground, in Camp Hill, on April 5, after making the most of an uncompleted boundary fence, which was meant to stop such intrusions on the field.

Security is being beefed up at a former Warwickshire colliery after a group of travellers were finally moved on.

A number of caravans had parked up at the Daw Mill site, in Arley, near Nuneaton, after a gate had been forced open last week.

Bailiffs were eventually called in and the travellers finally left the site yesterday.

Iain Thomson, partnerships manager at Harworth Estates who own the land, said: “We have now re-secured the gates and arranged for regular patrols for the next 24 hours.

“We will then be back on-site tomorrow to firm up physical security measures to prevent further break-ins to the site.”

Travellers move on to Coventry TGI Fridays car park



Travellers have moved on to the car park of TGI Fridays in Coventry.

Police were called after a total of seven caravans parked up at the restaurant in Binley at around 11.40am this morning.

Their arrival comes on the same day that a group of travellers left the nearby Warwickshire Shopping Park.

A number of caravans, a campervan and other vehicles had been parked at the retail park near to M&S since Tuesday night.

A spokesman for TGI Friday’s stated that the restaurant was originally closed for a short time while they ensured that customers had unaffected access to the car park.

Travellers set up new camp at University Hospital in Coventry



A group of travellers have set up camp at University Hospital in Coventry.

Around six caravans drove into a staff car park at the Walsgrave hospital at around 7.15pm yesterday.

West Midlands Police were informed and have been liaising with security at the hospital.

A spokeswoman for the force said: “They were reported last night at 7.15pm.

“Basically there are reports that four caravans are on a staff car park.

“Police attended. It now has to go through the usual eviction process through the council.

“We are now just liaising with security and personnel from the hospital.”

A hospital spokesman said: “A number of members from the travelling community moved into one of the staff car parks at University Hospital in Coventry last night.

“We are doing all we can to minimise the impact on patients and visitors and are working to resolve this situation as quickly as possible given the well documented issues with car parking we have at the hospital.

"All staff and public car parks are open as normal but as there is a reduction in spaces available, the reality is that this is going to impact on staff and patients.

“Given this reduction in spaces, visitors should consider using public transport to get on site until this is resolved.”

Yesterday travellers were spotted occupying the car park of KFC in Bermuda Park, Nuneaton, and at TGI Fridays in Binley.

Since then they have reportedly moved onto a site of a former garden centre across from Coventry Speedway in Binley Woods.

In recent days they have also been parked at the Warwickshire Shopping Park in Binley and Daw Mill Colliery in Arley.

Travellers move on from Coventry's University Hospital

Travellers have left University Hospital in Coventry after setting up camp on a staff car park.

Around six caravans had moved onto the car park at the Walsgrave hospital at around 7.15pm on Thursday and refused to budge.

They were issued with an ‘unacceptable behaviour leaflet’ by West Midlands Police who stated that the travellers were “interfering with the rights and freedoms of others and interfering with the operation of a legitimate business”.

And University Hospital confirmed on Saturday morning that the caravans have now left the site.

Travellers turn SECOND hospital car park into makeshift camp

Travellers have turned a SECOND hospital staff car park into a makeshift camp.

Eleven caravans pitched up at George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton on Saturday.

A hospital spokeswoman said: “We’re liaising with the appropriate authorities to be able to manage the situation.”

She added that it would not affect staff over the weekend because other parking was available and she hoped the car park would be clear by Monday.