Travellers pitch up around children's play park in Fareham as neighbours call them 'selfish'
The travellers arrived at the weekend, and have stayed around the park ever since.
Travellers have encircled a play park in Fareham, pitching their caravans with views out over the Solent.
Since Wickham Horse Fair in May, multiple groups of travellers have been moving across the south of Hampshire, moving from Waterlooville to Swanmore, and now into Fareham.
On Saturday, July 25, more than a dozen caravans appeared at High View Park in Dore Avenue, Portchester, and have been there ever since. The caravans have surrounded the children’s play park, which neighbours say they are actively avoiding until the travellers have been moved on.
One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “The school holidays have only just started, and already we feel like we can’t take our children to the park when it’s literally around the corner.
“I don’t think they would necessarily stop us from going to the park, but it’s quite intimidating for them to have surrounded it like that. It also means a lot of people who would just be staring at your kids - I wouldn’t feel comfortable with that.
“From what I’ve heard they’ve been travelling around all over the place, so hopefully they get moved on soon and we can get our park back.”
Another neighbour added: “Of all the places to set up camp, this feels really inconsiderate. They’ve taken our local play park away from the children, just for the sake of having somewhere to stay for a few days.
“There is plenty of actual parking around the corner, up on Portsdown Hill - I cannot understand why they would stay here, short of just being selfish.
“I’ve been avoiding the park myself, I just hope they haven’t been causing problems for those who live over the road.”
A spokesperson for Fareham Borough Council said: “Thirteen caravans and associated vehicles arrived at the area on 23 July. Officers attended to complete a welfare check and serve notice to quit the land on 24 July.
“After working with the courts today (July 28), the council now has a hearing date set for August 6 for repossession of the land. The police have emergency powers to remove travellers immediately where a certain threshold is met.
“They are aware and will be constantly reviewing their position based on any crime and disorder.”