Travellers 'break into' former Dukinfield slaughterhouse

A gang of travellers have allegedly raided a former slaughterhouse in Dukinfield, weeks after the site’s closure.

In what was described as ‘one big operation’, numerous caravans and vans descended on Pilgrim’s Ashton at midnight on Wednesday (August 23).

One witness, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “When I got there, one of the gates had been smashed in and what looked like families (with kids as young as eight) were running in and out of the place, loading their vans with red barrels.

“There were around ten to fifteen caravans coming in, loading up and driving off – just stripping the place for everything it’s got.

“Outside the gates they had a gang of them on electric motorbikes scouting for the police.

“I believe a local business notified the police of what was going on but by the time they arrived the lights were back off and the gates shut, as if nothing had been going on.”

Councillor Dave Sweeton said: “The activity of the travellers and their frequent endeavours within the Tameside area cause our businesses a lot of concern.

“A lot of money has been spent, by businesses throughout the borough, in preventing opportunities for travellers to actually occupy their sites and to ensure that they are as up to speed with safety as possible."

Councillor Jackie Lane said: “We’re sad about the fact the site closed down and even more so that the business is now having to put up with this.

“It unnerves people when private land is being broken into and it impacts everything – the economy, the small businesses, the residents. It’s just not fair for this to keep happening.”

Operations at the Dukinfield Pilgrim’s site were transferred to the company’s abattoir and butchery facilities in Spalding and Westerleigh on Friday 7 July. The site is now redundant although still owned by Pilgrim.

After being moved on from the Dukinfield area, the travellers set up camp in Sainsbury's Denton car park, on Oldham Street.

A member of the public told us: "The store closed early because they'd flooded the car park - there were loads of them and dogs everywhere too. As customers were driving in, the kids were running in front of cars with trolleys and then trying the doors when they stopped."

A Sainsbury's spokesperson confirmed that consequently the store closed one hour earlier on Friday (August 25), however was open as usual on Saturday.