Travellers left without Brighton site - Sussex

From the Argus

Brighton and Hove’s only permanent Traveller site could remain closed for three more weeks.

Travellers have been left with no place to go in the city and are being advised by the council not to stay while repairs are carried out.

Speaking to The Argus yesterday, Travellers currently based in Stanmer Park, Brighton, said they wanted permanent sites and were fed up with constantly being moved on.

The city council said there are currently three unauthorised encampments in the city.

Council officers are applying for a possession order to move a large collection of Travellers from Stanmer Park and are negotiating a leaving date with van-dwellers in Coldean Woods.

Eviction advice has also been given to the landowners at Benfield Valley Golf Course in Hangleton Lane, Hove.

The council’s 23-pitch transit site at Horsdean closed in April for repairs which were originally estimated to last four weeks.

However “unanticipated drainage issues” have been holding up improved security and fire safety measures meaning the site is set to be closed until the end of the month.

Proper facilities

The council said a security guard is currently on site to protect the council’s assets and to help monitor and manage the site.

Kathleen Connors, living in a mobile home in Stanmer Park, said: “There should be more proper permanent sites for Travellers.

“We need proper facilities.”

John Adams travelled from Ireland to several sites across the UK and said he expects to stay in Brighton until the end of July.

He said: “The site is closed at the moment but we can’t get on anyway because they allow people to overstay their three months.

“When the council moves us on, they often come at 6pm when we are getting the kids ready for bed and that’s not very nice.”

Dog walker Robert Ransom, 56, from Hove, in Stanmer Park yesterday said: “I feel sorry they are moved from one site to another but they do look unsightly.

“I think it’s always going to be like this, they need a big field somewhere.”

A council spokeswoman said: “Without Horsdean there is no temporary provision for them in the city and this means that they need to move on to another area to locate a transit site.

"We are anticipating that Horsdean will reopen in two to three weeks.

“We visit and carry out wel- fare visits with all travellers who come into the city and camp on public land.”