Travellers leave Churston site after boulders arrive - Devon

From the Herald Express

A GROUP of Travellers who set up camp in Churston have left after a local farmer arrived on the scene armed with 28 tonnes of boulders.

The four caravans appeared on the green between Bascombe Road and Dartmouth Road last week.

But after four days, Churston farmer and businessman Richard Haddock decided to block off all access points to the commons to prevent more Travellers setting up camp there.

He said he was asked by Churston Community Partnership which asked the permission of Torbay Council.

Mr Haddock said he was told to allow one access point so any vehicles could leave.

He said: " When we started putting down the boulders, they started clearing off."

Mr Haddock said he had now blocked off the last entry point onto the commons.

Altogether he and his employees put down some 28 tonnes of limestone boulders, including some weighing as much as two tonnes.

Mr Haddock said it took him about four hours to load and unload the boulders. He added: "There was no problems. They just left quickly."

Adam Billing, chairman of the Churston, Galmpton and Broadsands Community Partnership, thanked both Torbay Council and Mr Haddock for promptly acting to stop unauthorised vehicles on the common.

He said: "Various members of the community requested steps be taken to stop unauthorised vehicles on the commons. That was done very quickly and satisfactorily."

He said they would look at alternatives for the future such as a ditch or earth bank or even posts driven into the ground.

Meanwhile, the group is holding its next meeting at Churston Grammar School at 6.30pm on Wednesday, May 30.

A spokesman for Torbay Council said: "We did receive a letter from the chairman of the community partnership and in response gave permission for boulders to be placed on site."