From the News
TRAVELLERS have moved on to a cricket ground after being turfed off a football pitch.
The group of 12 caravans and several vehicles pitched up on Millennium Meadow, the home of West Wittering Cricket Club.
It came after they were given their marching orders from Bosham Recreation Ground, the home of Bosham FC, hours earlier on Monday afternoon.
Bosham Parish Council, which owns the land, was left with a huge clean-up job after the travellers left.
Police and a tow truck were called in at about 8pm on Monday to remove two caravans and a truck which refused to leave.
The group said they did not have any keys.
The caravans and truck were returned to the Travellers outside the recreation ground.
John Dean, chairman of Bosham Parish Council, said: ‘We have had to clean the field and it’s now accessible to the public again.
‘It was not in a particularly good state. On the other hand it could have been worse.
‘We had to take away two truck-loads of plastic bags filled with rubbish.
‘They had lit a fire and there were a lot of nails and broken glass.
‘There were various items of human excrement round the place. It was quite a big clean-up job.’
He added: ‘We have both legal costs and clean-up costs. I can’t say how many pounds it will be at the moment.’
The group is the same one which has invaded several public spaces over the last month in the Havant and Emsworth areas.
The group stayed for almost a fortnight near a cycle track off Havant Road, in Emsworth, until being evicted.
Paul Hills, chairman of West Wittering Cricket Club, said: ‘They are actually on parish council land.
‘The parish council is dealing with the whole matter.
‘We have matches this weekend – at the moment we are still planning to play them.
‘Hopefully the matter will be resolved before then. If not we shan’t be able to play.’
Officials at West Wittering Parish Council said they were pursuing a court eviction order.
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