CONTROVERSIAL plans to move a group of travellers has been put on hold after concerns were raised by “terrified” traders.

Business owners at Clay Flatts Industrial Estate, on Reedlands Road, Workington, raised their concern and upset with the proposals, claiming Allerdale Council only informed a few businesses of the move on Friday – just three days before they were set to go ahead.

The council had been working with partners to to relocate a gypsy and traveller encampment from Allerdale Council-owned land at the St Helen’s Business Park (former Jump Mania site) to allow for the start of work on a major infrastructure project at the Port of Workington.

While the move has been put on hold for now, traders across the industrial estate are calling on the council to scrap the plans altogether.

A spokesman for the Workington businesses said: “This isn’t about prejudice against the traveller community, it’s about how the council has gone about it.

“To notify businesses on a Friday afternoon to say travellers will be moving next door on the Monday is underhanded, and it’s appalling that the council has treated us all this way.

“It’s a hard enough time for us all with Covid. I made a loss last year, so the last thing we all need is to lose business because the council is moving travellers on to the land next to us.”

They continued: “We had travellers on the Reedlands site about 12 months ago, and they left human faeces and rubbish and all sorts there – dog walkers were stepping in it, and it was horrendous.

“We don’t want this sort of thing happening again, because it will destroy our businesses.”

But the traders’ fight isn’t against the travellers’ encampment, but rather the council’s handling of the situation – especially during lockdown.

“Why are they allowed to move the travellers when we’re all meant to be staying at home?” the spokesman said.

“When businesses submit plans, we have to jump through so many hoops. We want to know, is the council having to do the same thing with this, because it doesn’t seem like it.”

Workington MP Mark Jenkinson has also raised concerns, saying: “There is clearly an issue with unauthorised encampments in the Workington constituency.

“I have raised these issues a number of times with the police and the council, and I am confident that the necessary powers exist to swiftly evict the majority of these sites. Unfortunately, the problem remains.

“Illegal and unauthorised encampments should not be tolerated by the council, and residents or businesses who operate and live within the law should be able to feel assured that law-breaking will not be overlooked.”

A spokesman for Allerdale Council said: “The project, which will bring benefits to rail passengers and the local economy, involves strengthening the road bridge to the port and the planned relocation would allow a temporary road and level crossing to be built which will give access to the port while the work is being carried out to the existing bridge.”

The council said the plans have been put on hold after concerns were raised and it will continue to work with partners “to find a safe place for the travellers.”