More than a dozen travellers’ caravans have set up camp on the greenway near Bradley.
The travellers, who describe themselves as Romany gypsies, pushed aside boulders to drive onto the open land just off Leeds Road, near Batley’s cash and carry.
The group, made up of around six families, arrived on Thursday night and plan to stay all week – unless they get evicted first.
Travellers set up camp in Bradley - pictures
The camp is at the start of the Bradley to Birkby section of the greenway, a popular cycle and walking route which is also used by Town fans going to matches at the John Smith’s Stadium.
One of the travellers, who refused to be named, said the group was going to Lee Gap horse fair at West Ardsley, near Leeds.
The horse-trading fair, held today, reputedly dates back to at least 1136 and attracts travellers from across the country.
The man said the group had travelled from Goole, East Yorkshire, and added: “We will probably stay until Sunday unless we get evicted first.
“We stay as long as we can before the council comes round and then we go somewhere else.”
The man, a lifelong traveller, defended the community’s right to roam and insisted his group wouldn’t leave a mess.
“Look around,” he said. “We are putting all our rubbish into sacks.”
Asked whether they would be taking their rubbish with them, he said: “No, we’ll leave the bags at the side. The council has to come and clear the parks anyway, don’t they?”
The man, who allowed the Examiner to take photographs of his daughter Lorna, nine, and another boy four-year-old John – said: “We know we are a bit of a nuisance but we are not interfering too much with the public here.”
He described the men of the group as “hard working men” but when asked what they did for a living he just grinned. He then joined others in a white van and said he was off to a car boot sale.
The man also admitted the group pushed stones out of the way to enter the site.
Travellers who camped on playing fields at New Hey Road, Salendine Nook, appeared to have moved on after legal action was launched.
Last year it was revealed that legal fees, clean-up costs and security measures to deal with travellers cost Kirklees Council £150,000 in just 12 months.
The council now has a policy of blocking entry to vulnerable sites with boulders.
