TRAVELLERS are once again being accused of wrecking an Ilkley beauty spot and causing annoyance to residents.

The transfer of land at Denton Road to the Ilkley Angling Association and the erection of 'No Camping' signs has done nothing to deter the travellers who turned up in droves last week before moving on yesterday .

It was initially reported that around 20 caravans had descended on the lay-by on May 13 but some later moved off.

Because of the on-going problem, the landowners are faced with some stark choices - to put up with the periodic travellers camp and all that goes with it, plough up the lay-by, or fence off a popular local beauty spot next to the stepping stones across the River Wharfe.

In a bid to deter the travellers, Ilkley Angling Association bought the land off its previous owner who lived in the south of England.

Although members had 'No Camping' signs put up, they wanted the area left open for picnickers and other visitors.

Ilkley district councillor Colin Powell (Con) has accused the police of not doing enough to help the owners.

Coun Powell said: "They arrived last Tuesday. Immediately the secretary of the Angling Association went to the police. The law is an absolute ass because nothing has been done.

"It is an area which is a beauty spot of this valley and they foul it up."

Coun Powell said people living across the river from the gypsy camp had complained of being kept awake by noise from generators.

He said that the Angling Association could apply for a court order to evict the travellers but it was expensive and took 28 days to obtain.

Coun Powell said: "These people pay no rates and contribute to society nothing whatsoever as far as I can see and the frustrating part is you can't get the police to do something about it.

"I don't know if the children go to school. I just think they are living off us and spoiling and degrading an area.

"What sort of society are we in where you can own land and people can just park on it - there is something crazy about it."

Councillor Powell has accused the police of fobbing off the owners of the land by not removing some of the caravans straight away. He said that the law allowed six caravans to stay for 28 days but by not moving the others off, the police were neglecting their duty.

A spokesman for Bradford Council said: "This land is privately owned which limits our powers. We will continue to monitor what is happening and we are available to give advice to the landowners if they require."

A police spokesman said: "Force policy is that we always get the owner of the land, whether private or council, to seek an eviction order through the courts. We would then support them on the service of this notice to prevent a breach of peace.

"In this instance we have liaised with Bradford Council. Obviously any reported offences or anti-social behaviour would be investigated thoroughly."

Brian Featherstone, president of Ilkley Angling Association said: "If there are more than six vehicles, the police can move them on. It is a problem because you can't do anything when there are only six on there."

Mr Featherstone said: "There were 20-odd vehicles there at one stage and a lot of them have moved. We have had them twice this year and police have moved them on.

"We don't want to deny the public access to the site - it is a beauty spot. And there is a public right of way to the stepping stones."

He said members had considered ploughing the whole area which would stop the travellers but this would also spoil the beauty spot for tourists.

"It will have to be the lesser of two evils if we can't get rid of the travellers," said Mr Featherstone.

But Coun Powell said he had no doubt that they would be back. They had been there well over a week and no action had been taken to get them off - that is the frustrating thing."

Coun Powell has called for a change in the law of trespass to make it easier for landowners to evict travellers. He had been told if they decided to camp on the lawn of his garden there was not much he could do about it.

"I just fear the next lot when they come. We expect, as ratepayers living in this beautiful valley, action from the police and that is what they can take if there are more than six vehicles," said Coun Powell.