JUST when the people of Ilkley had dared to imagine the problem might have been solved, travellers have once again decamped on one of the town's beauty spots.

The picturesque Denton Road layby next to the stepping stones across the River Wharfe is once again home to the usual ragbag of trucks, caravans and horses, associated with people who prefer a nomadic life-style. The glow of the camp fire and the hum of the petrol generator will fill the river bank with smells and sounds as once again, locals are kept awake and irritated by the seasonal migration.

Some locals may consider travellers as a the keepers of a romantic tradition, deserving of support and sympathy rather than prejudice and antipathy. And those outraged by what they see as the blatant violation of private property are often dismissed as blinkered old buffoons whose attitude belongs to the 19th century when vicious man traps made sure poachers paid dearly for the chance to bag one of the estate's multitude of rabbits.

When the Ilkley Angling Association acquired the land from the owner and erected 'no overnight camping' signs, many in Ilkley thought the problem of the travellers might go away. No such luck.

The anglers could plough up the lay by and prevent any parking on it whatsoever, thereby throwing the baby out with the bath water. Many in the association want the area left open for tourists and other short-stay visitors.

One solution would be to put up barriers all around the area, including an entrance consisting of a limited height barrier. That would let cars through but not caravans or trucks. Then there is the consideration why the anglers should have to go to all that expense just to keep the riverbank open for tourists. Or are the travellers just going to keep coming back and coming back until the riverbank layby is ploughed up and blocked off completely for themselves, tourists and local like?

Would that be the only development that would make them pass Ilkley by?