Traveller encampment brings 'mayhem' to Park Gate recreation ground

A COURT order has been issued to a group of travellers who have set up an encampment on a playing field in Park Gate – and they remain on the site in a ‘very unusual’ move.

By Richard Lemmer

Published 2nd Oct 2020, 13:03 BST

Updated 2nd Oct 2020, 13:17 BST

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

Watch more of our videos on Shots!
and live on Freeview channel 276

Fareham Borough Council has secured the order after a group of six caravans appeared in the playing fields along Hunts Pond Road on Thursday September 24

They remain at the site in a ‘very unusual’ move that could require bailiffs being used to remove them, according to Fareham Borough Council leader Sean Woodward.

Cllr Woodward said: ‘Normally it never gets to this situation.

Travellers in Park Gate on October 2. Picture: Sarah Standing

Travellers in Park Gate on October 2. Picture: Sarah Standing

‘Usually, as soon as a court order is due, encampments leave the site they are on.

‘This is very unusual.

‘If we need to we will get bailiffs in to throw them out.

‘I can’t remember the last time that’s happened in Fareham.’

Live updates as police launch raid and searches in Newgate Lane, Fareham

Once they have been removed, the council faces cleaning up a ‘terrible mess’, according to Cllr Woodward.

He said: ‘I went down there a couple of day ago and there was certainly a lot of rubbish left lying around – there was a lot of rubbish thrown in bushes.

‘It has caused mayhem for the people that want to use there local recreation ground.

It appears that a barrier at the entrance of the playing fields had been damaged, according to the council leader.

He said: ‘The barrier was cut through.

‘It looks like someone took an angle grinder to it.

SEE ALSO: Live updates as Storm Alex causes traffic chaos across Hampshire and Portsmouth

‘We have such barriers at all our open spaces, but everything can be broken-in to where there is a will and a criminal mind.’

It follows a traveller encampment of more 15 caravans was pitched on Wicor Rec over the space of two weeks in August – leaving nearby residents ‘living in fear’ of anti-social behaviour.

After police expelled the encampment using Section 61 powers to tackle the nuisance behaviour, the council was left with a bill of more than £3,655 to deal with the camp and its 12 tonnes of waste.

Want to read more stories about Fareham? Join our Fareham News Facebook group to get the latest updates from the town.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

Thank you for reading this story. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on our advertisers and thus our revenues.

The News is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism. You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news and information online.

Every subscription helps us continue providing trusted, local journalism and campaign on your behalf for our city.