Council leader slams travellers who suddenly pitched up at Harborough Leisure Centre

A council leader has slammed travellers who suddenly pitched up at Harborough Leisure Centre on Tuesday March 24.

Cllr Phil King hit out after the group of three caravans and four vans descended on the complex’s car park in Market Harborough on Tuesday afternoon.

They left on Wednesday hours after being warned to leave by Leicestershire County Council’s Multi-Agency Traveller Unit (MATU) and police.

The Northampton Road centre has been shut since Friday March 20 to try to stop the highly-virulent coronavirus spreading.

Eye-witnesses said that travellers were talking together in the cark park as their kids ran around playing in the bright spring sunshine.

Cllr King, leader of Harborough District Council, told the Harborough Mail: "It is immensely disappointing that they have chosen to do this as they are putting themselves and others at serious risk at this time of national crisis.”

He added when they were still there: “They should follow the firm instruction given to them by the MATU on Tuesday to leave the site, and which they indicated they would do by latest Wednesday am, or face some form of containment with all that would entail.”

A Leicestershire Police spokeswoman said: “We are aware that some members of the travelling community had arrived at a car park in Market Harborough.

“The Multi-Agency Traveller Unit (MATU) and the force traveller liaison officer visited the site and spoke to the occupants.

“They have since moved on from the area.”