Travellers' camp arrives at South Common - Lincolnshire

From the Lincolnshire Echo

A group of Irish Travellers have set up camp on South Common in Lincoln.

Local residents said that the convoy of eight caravans arrived at the site, which is owned by Lincoln City Council, around a fortnight ago.

Several cars are alongside the caravans and motorhomes, and the families have set up washing lines.

The camp seems mainly to be occupied by women and children on Tuesday afternoon.

"We don't want to speak to you, nobody here will speak," said one Traveller woman, who refused to say why the group were in the city.

"We don't know how long we will be here," she added.

A resident whose home overlooks the Common believed that the families' arrival was linked to an upcoming funfair on the land.

"They came about two weeks ago, but we've not had any trouble from them at all - we've heard nothing from them at all. I thought they were here for the fair - there are groups that camp there a couple of times a year," said the man, who did not wish to be named.

In April 2012 a group of French-speaking Travellers were evicted from the site by Lincoln City Council.