Poole charity workers man Holton Lee site after Travellers attempt to move in - Dorset

From the Daily Echo

STAFF at a charity are having to man the entrance to their site after Travellers attempted to move in.

Holton Lee, which works with disabled and vulnerable people, is asking visitors to sign in and out at the main entrance after a group of seven cars, some towing caravans, tried to gain entry to the private land.

Vicky Rhodes, manager of Holton Lee, says they have had to introduce staff on the door during opening hours, following the incident on Saturday, at around 5.30pm.

She said: “We did have an effort from some Travellers, in their cars, some towing caravans, which had the number plates covered up, saying that they wanted to visit some family members, which we knew not to be the case.

“They were told that this was private land, and that they would not be allowed to come on site.

“Shortly after, we made a call to the police, and before the officers arrived, the vehicles were seen to move off.

“We do not have the funding to deal with the legal implications associated with taking steps to move Travellers off the land, should they come on to the site.”