A COMMUNITY leader has called for Wrexham Council to set up a policy to deal with travellers who cause anti-social behaviour - but the authority says it already has one.

Acton County Cllr Geoff Lowe was speaking at a meeting of Acton Community Council when he referred to a recent case where travellers had set up on the Rhosnessni Lane sports field.

He claimed they had caused anti-social behaviour for residents, and said that Wrexham Council needed to put a plan in place to prevent a re-occurrence.

”I have every sympathy with the residents who pay their rates and then have to pay to have the site cleared up", he said.

"They are also met with abuse if they speak to the travellers. It is not fair and Wrexham Council must set up a policy recently to deal with travellers.

“It is not just in the Acton area but residents all over Wrexham county which is being affected.

"The police are not visible and I am not sure if they know how to deal with the situation, legally”.

Cllr Ralph Hardy who regularly watches his young relatives playing and training on the field claimed he saw a boy aged about 13 or 14 years old driving his parents car around the field.

And Cllr Lynne Wiliams said while she also had sympathy with residents – she was also concerned about the damage being done to trees by both travellers and footballers by cars being parked on the grass.

A spokesman for Wrexham Council confirmed the authority already has an active protocol to respond to the arrival of travellers.

But the authority has limited powers and has to gain a court order to enable them to be moved on.

She added: "I can confirm the council does have a protocol for the arrival of travellers but the council's powers are limited.

"Any anti-social behaviour would be a matter for the police."