Convoy of Travellers' vehicles to move on

A convoy of Traveller vehicles which camped illegally on a section of the new Ashford/Rathnew by-pass on Monday night is due …

A convoy of Traveller vehicles which camped illegally on a section of the new Ashford/Rathnew by-pass on Monday night is due to move on today following complaints from local residents and Wicklow County Council.

Approximately 40 Traveller vehicles from the North arrived onto a section of the road which is still under construction en route to Carlow.

The convoy included caravans, transit vans and a number of articulated vehicles and gardaí were called to the scene.

A spokesperson for the Travellers told The Irish Times yesterday that the convoy intended moving from the site and travelling to a wedding in Carlow on Thursday.

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Wicklow County Council complained to gardaí about the illegal settlement yesterday. A council spokesperson said it had no jurisdiction over the encampment, which was on private land, and was thus the responsibility of the road contractors.

Mr Des O'Brien, director of housing with the council, said the matter was in the hands of the Garda who had the power to request the group to relocate or, failing that, impound their vehicles. After a consultation with the Traveller group, gardaí were satisfied the convoy would leave the site today.

Local councillor and chairman of the strategic policy group on roads with Wicklow County Council, Mr Derek Mitchell, said he found it amazing that people were allowed to camp where they wanted, despite disruption to local residents and motorists.

He said there was another group of Travellers living on the same road near Kilmacanogue.

Locals contacted Wicklow radio yesterday to complain about the illegal encampment.

In February, up to 45 Traveller vehicles were ordered to move from the end of the M1 motorway in Co Louth after safety concerns for the children living on the site and motorists using the road were raised.