More than 30 caravans pitch up on Southsea Common as council announce action plan

Police attended the traveller hotspot after they began swooping onto the popular location on Wednesday evening.

Now, at the latest count, there are said to be 34 caravans as the Common.

The latest pilgrimage follows dozens of caravans and trailers descending onto the site in May - with city council leader, councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, then revealing reports of Covid-19 among the pack before they moved on.

The latest flock of travellers has stirred deep fury amongst those living nearby.

One ‘very disgruntled resident’ said: ‘How can these caravans arrive en masse again and take the Common over?

‘The council have had time to correct spaces and change the lock on the large gate by the Queens Hotel at Clarence Parade.’

The seething local then asked: ‘Can someone tell me what the future is to protect our common?’

Police confirmed they had visited the common and will continue to patrol the area but said it was a matter for the council.

A spokeswoman said: ‘We are aware of the unauthorised encampment on Southsea Common and have visited the site. Southsea Common remains within our patrol plans for the area.

‘At this time it is a matter for the landowner.’

A spokesman for Portsmouth City Council said: ‘We are going through the usual process we follow with unauthorised encampments in the city.

‘This includes welfare checks for those there and making sure the area is as safe as possible for local residents to use.’

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