Don't give travellers work say councillors - Dorset

From the Daily Echo

POOLE residents are being urged not to give Gypsies and Travellers work to avoid more illegal camps cropping up on the borough’s playing fields.

That’s the message from councillors at a public meeting to discuss how to cope with future problems as seen at Whitecliff, Broadstone and Haskells Recreation Ground, Talbot Drive and Verity Crescent recently.

Residents say the caravans and vans being driven around the fields, pitches and playgrounds, ruled them out of bounds for local people.

Councillor Brian Clements, speaking at the Newtown and Parkstone Area Committee meeting on Thursday, said: “I think individuals amongst us are prepared to stand up and say: ‘If people do not give them the work they would not stay’.

“That message needs to go out and if the council cannot do it officially then let us as councillors stand up and say what we think.”

Members raised concerns about the limitations of proposed transit sites, which consultants are due to report back on in the autumn.

“These transit sites are not the panacea to all our ills,” Cllr Ann Stribley said.

A transit site with a warden, showers and toilets must be vacant and have the right number of pitches for Travellers to be ordered onto it.

Gathered residents at the Evangelical Church Hall, on Ringwood Road, heard council officers are bringing in measures to help solve future issues.

They include a dedicated officer on each Safer Neighbourhood Team and placing Purbeck stone at the entrances to open spaces.

The issue is also due to come before the Economy and Overview Scrutiny committee.

As it stands, the council must produce reports before applying for a court order to move travellers on. They must have evidence of contamination taking place or critical services such as a school being blocked off.

Cllr Tony Woodcock said he has written to local government minister Bob Neill about Poole’s woes after the encampments had a “significant impact” on residents.

Cllr Woodcock said: “If my friends were on holiday and camped on a park they would be arrested immediately.

“If anybody, a councillor or resident, went onto Whitecliff and started using their car across the park they would be arrested.”

He had asked Mr Neill if all citizens were not equal under the law.

He added: “I do not think we should just sit back and let people break the law with impunity because the police do not approach them in the same way as with anyone else in this town.”

Barbara Plumbridge, of Sandbanks Road, said the travellers at Whitecliff had been “detrimental” to community life.

“It was as though the Travellers had rights and we had none – that was how we felt,” she said.