A COUNCIL leader has hit out at the “expensive legal process” to remove travellers from land after a spate of encampments in Eastleigh.
A number of travellers pitched up across the borough last month.
This includes the two recent unauthorised encampments at Chalcroft Way and Fleming Park – costing the council around £5,000 in the aftermath.
READ MORE:
- Council confirms travellers who set up camp on playing fields have now left
- Police respond to rumours travellers dumped human waste in river
Leader of Eastleigh Borough Council, Cllr Keith House said the amount spent “can’t be right.”
He said: “Despite pledges of a solution from the government, landowners still have to go through an expensive legal process to remove travellers from their land and suffer the clean-up costs.
“On public land that means taxpayers picking up the bill. That can’t be right.”
A total of 22 caravans set up camp in Fleming Park, land owned by the council, on May 24.
Rumours circulated online stating that the travellers dumped human waste in the park’s river.
But Hampshire Constabulary said this was not true.
A spokesperson said: "I have spoken to the local Neighbourhood Policing Team responsible for patrolling the area around Fleming Park and there is nothing to suggest that any such information, or warning, had been given to a member of the public or the wider local community recently."
The travellers left the park two days after their arrival.
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Earlier that same week, an unauthorised traveller encampment prevented more than 1,000 people from playing football at Stoneham Lane Football Complex.
Travellers set up camp for a total of 29 hours from Monday, May 23 before leaving the Eastleigh complex on Tuesday following police intervention.
The Hampshire FA site suffered damage to the height barrier and grass pitch as a result and a total of 94 football teams could not play their matches or train during this period.
According to the Eastleigh Borough Council website, if travellers pitch up on land owned by the council, they can apply for a possession order.
An assessment visit to the encampment must occur before legal action is taken.
However, land privately owned by a company or individual requires the landowner to obtain a possession order through the county court or magistrates' court.
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