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DUN MOVING

Travellers move onto Dunelm customer car park and refuse to move just week after separate stand-offs at Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Virgin

It is the latest in a number of invasions on shops' private land in the past week

A GROUP of travellers have set up camp outside a Dunelm branch in West Yorkshire.

More than a dozen caravans have moved onto the car park in front of a large UK furnishings retailer on Spence Lane in Leeds -  just a week after separate stand-offs at Sainsbury's, Virgin and Tesco.

 A traveller community has set up home on the car park of Dunelm in Leeds
A traveller community has set up home on the car park of Dunelm in LeedsCredit: Guzelian
 The travellers are currently blocking parking spaces for Dunelm customers in Leeds
The travellers are currently blocking parking spaces for Dunelm customers in LeedsCredit: Guzelian

It is thought that the caravans had moved onto the site after the store closed yesterday or early this morning.

The travellers are currently blocking spaces for customers in the car park, which is believed to be private land.

Cars have been seen entering the site and customers appear to still be entering the store, despite the presence of the travellers.

A Dunelm spokesman said: "Colleagues at the Leeds Dunelm store arrived this morning to find a number of caravans parked on the store car park.

"We have been in contact with the police who are currently handling the situation. The store is trading as normal and there will be no disruption to services.

"We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience this cause."

A spokesman for Leeds City Council said: “Leeds City Council officers have attended the Traveller encampment at the Dunelm Mill outlet in Holbeck.

"This is a privately-owned site and the landowners are aware and taking necessary steps to evict the group.”

It follows the invasion of more than a dozen travellers who have set up camp in the grounds of a posh Virgin Active health club.

Around six caravans pitched up on private land owned by Richard Branson in Blythe Park, Shirley, near Solihull, West Midlands, on Sunday afternoon.

Just 24 hours before moving over to the upmarket gym and spa, they set up their caravans near a 24-hour Tesco.

 The car park has been invaded by more than a dozen caravans as travellers camp outside the large furnishings retailer
The car park has been invaded by more than a dozen caravans as travellers camp outside the large furnishings retailerCredit: Guzelian
 Customers don't seem to have been affected by the upset - although they now have limited spaces to park in
Customers don't seem to have been affected by the upset - although they now have limited spaces to park inCredit: Guzelian

The invasion comes after locals claimed they felt intimidated by the travellers as they tried to go about their weekend shopping at the supermarket giant.

Speaking on the influx, local councillor Ken Hawkins for Blythe Ward, Solihull, said: "Several (residents) told me that they avoided going shopping on Saturday due to the travellers.

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Around a dozen travellers set up camp outside a Virgin Active health club on Sunday, prompting locals' outrageCredit: South West News Service
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Getting creative ... travellers' clothes could be seen strewn across hedges in the posh gym car parkCredit: SOUTH WEST NEWS SERVICE
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Around six caravans were pitched up on the private land on Sunday afternoonCredit: South West News Service

 

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Shoppers and staff were shocked to see the same travellers pitch up their caravans in a Tesco car park earlier on in the week
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The group parked up outside the 24-hour Solihull Tesco before being asked to leaveCredit: Caters News Agency
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Some locals said they 'avoided going shopping on Saturday due to the travellers' at the Tesco branch
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The supermarket's petrol station was reportedly closed on Saturday over fears the travellers could cause damage

"I believe the petrol station at the supermarket was closed for this reason.

"It is frustrating as a councillor that they are able to trespass on land in this way.

"My fear is that next time they may use force to gain entry to our parks, and cause damage.

"It's another incursion from travellers, and in the last couple of years we have seen a number of incidents, particularly in our park.

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The travellers moved to the posh gym just 24 hours after being moved on from a nearby 24-hour TescoCredit: South West News Service

"There are some travellers that are good and who clear up and some that are nasty.

"Unfortunately, the vast majority of our experience of travellers has seen little respect for our community.

"As it on private land this time the law limits us.

“But council officers and police are working with the land owners to guide them through the process of getting them removed."

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The travellers have been given until Tuesday to leave the car parkCredit: South West News Service

A female member of staff working at Virgin Active said: "The gypsies moved onto the car park but the health club is still open.

"So far none of the travellers have tried to use the facilities. We are only open to members.

"The travellers have until Tuesday to leave but whether that happens remains to be seen."

A spokeswoman from Solihull Council added: "The council is aware of the unauthorised encampment at Blythe Valley Business Park.

"Council officers and colleagues from the police will work closely with the land owner to support with this incident wherever possible."




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