A council leader in Hampshire is demanding stricter legal measures against travellers accused of fly-tipping and causing destruction after an unauthorised encampment left a recreation ground in Fareham strewn with litter and damaged property.
Conservative Councillor Simon Martin stated that the travellers, who arrived on August 5 and gained access by damaging fencing, left behind a significant amount of waste, including bin bags, gas canisters, and a pram. A burned-out motorbike was also found among the debris. "The law needs to change whereby travellers can be prosecuted for criminal damage and made to pay for the cost of cleaning up after them," Martin said in a statement on Facebook, detailing the condition of the Park Lane site after the group's eviction.
Fareham Borough Council reported that around 19 vehicles were parked on the land during the encampment. Residents reportedly faced verbal abuse and dog attacks, according to Cllr Martin, although Hampshire Police stated they received no reports of such incidents during the encampment's presence. The council is now responsible for the cleanup costs, which Martin noted will be borne by residents through council tax.
In a separate but related incident in nearby Gosport, council officials attempted to deter a traveller encampment from settling on the Grange Lane fields. Measures included positioning council trucks to block access and using a tractor to cut the dry grass, creating large dust clouds. Residents expressed concern about recurring summer encampments, with one long-term resident hoping fires would not be lit.
The Gosport Reform Party voiced frustration on Facebook about the ease of access to open spaces, noting that councillors had previously raised concerns about implementing protective measures. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police confirmed they were aware of the unauthorised encampment in Gosport and were liaising with the local council.
