The need for a strong policy to protect land from traveler encampments has been brought home this week after an illegal camp was set up on Carpenters Down.
That’s the message from Popley residents with less than a month to go before a borough council consultation on the problem. Anyone affected by encampments are being encouraged to come forward, not only on this latest encampment but in order to find a solution to the wider issue.
Derek Curnow, chairman of Popley Fields Community Centre on Carpenters Down, is campaigning for a permanent traveler site, which he sees as the best solution. “Last year, travellers were moved on more than thirty times. It’s no good getting them to move from Carpenters Down if they have nowhere to go,” he said. “We need to find a solution that will last.”
The consultation on June 30 will bring together concerned residents, the council, Hampshire police and representatives of the traveling community. Derek will be handing in a petition demanding that travellers be moved on, not just from Carpenters Down, but from all built up areas in the borough. The petition, on hand in the community centre and in shops around Popley, has collected 90 signatures so far.
The family of four travellers on Carpenters Down have in fact returned to a favourite spot. Only last year they had set up an encampment on a nearby field as part of a large group of 15 vans.
“I remember them, but I haven’t bothered to talk to them this time. They don’t want to know,” said Derek. “The police have spoken to them and there hasn’t been too much trouble.
“Still, there’s a problem with noise, and the kids riding motorbikes around. Customers don’t want to park their cars in the centre car park and some remember what happened last year. It was horrendous. They had to collect 27 bags of rubbish afterwards and there were thefts. A man was found in our centre toilets stark naked and just said he was washing. They couldn’t care less.”
Cllr Jane Frankum is central to the bid for a solution, and urges all those who have been affected by the traveller community to come forward.
“Over the years I’ve had so many reports: the dogs, the noise, the mess, and the fact that they have no proper toilet arrangements a lot of the time,” said Cllr Frankum. “But when I’ve spoken to people and said to ring the police or 101, they say what’s the point as nothing ever gets done. If you don’t report these things, they don’t get logged and the police come back to us saying there’s no problem.
“We don’t want them to be able to say that at this consultation.”
Residents who have been affected by the Carpenters Down travellers, or any other encampment, are invited to book a place to speak at the consultation.
They can also fill out an online questionnaire at www.basingstoke.gov.uk/go/yoursay.
For more information on the questionnaire, the petition, or the consultation, contact the borough council on 01256 844844.
