Council orders travellers to leave Portsmouth playing field

They first arrived at the Mountbatten Centre on Sunday, before moving on to the Cosham site the following evening, after the council began court proceedings.

Caravans were first seen at the field off Western Road just before 11pm on Monday night. The security team at Lakeside Business Park nearby locked the main entrance gates and the access gate at 10.46pm, after being told about the travellers’ presence.

Seven caravans and two cars are still there today

A lorry driver, who was parked on the road on Monday evening, said: ‘I saw them parked up late at night and they were still here the following morning when I came back.’

Portsmouth City Council issued a notice to the travellers on ordering them to leave and they intend to leave today.

A council spokesman said: ‘The travellers arrived at the Mountbatten Centre on Sunday. The following day we issued a notice telling them to leave, and began court proceedings.

‘They left the site before it became necessary to go to court, and went to an area of council land on Western Road, near the King George V Playing Fields, which is where they are now.

‘We’ve issued a notice telling them to leave, and we understand they intend to go today. Their presence is not causing any impact we’re aware of. If they don’t go tomorrow, we’ll take further action.’