A TRAVELLING family which has had 111 complaints against it could face a High Court injunction banning it from highways across the whole of York.

The family has been blamed for causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to hedgerows, causing danger to road users and leaving rubbish strewn around camps. Police have dealt with 32 complaints against the group since January last year. Now, City of York Council is set to apply to the High Court for an injunction forbidding the family to use its highways.

Richard Haswell, the council's regulation unit manager, said: "An estimated 560 metres of hedgerows have been destroyed by horses, with a reinstatement cost of £4,000 to £5,000. Complaints have also been received regarding traffic hazards caused by the horses tethered close to the roadside or straying on to the road."

The family, which has not been identified, but has 14 members aged between 15 and 79, has camped around York for more than three years. Its members keep dogs, fowl and up to 40 horses. There have been 16 different encampments since January 2000.

"Officers of the council have applied the council's policy to try to mitigate the problems caused by these travellers," said Mr Haswell. "Informal advice and assistance has proved futile and requests to reduce the number of horses ignored. Legal remedies have been sought to move the travellers on. These have only resulted in short-term relief."

North Yorkshire County Council has started proceedings to ban the family from an area stretching from the City of York Council boundary to Malton.

City of York Council guidelines says a policy of tolerance is shown to encampments.

"But toleration does not mean toleration of criminal or anti-social activity that might be associated with the encampment," said Mr Haswell.

Councillors were considering applying for the injunction today.

Mr Haswell said: "Members are asked to consider the significant impact this family have had on residents of parts of York, and the strenuous efforts officers have made to mitigate those problems".

Updated: 10:43 Thursday, March 07, 2002