10:20am Monday 7th September 2009
By Patrick Knox
DEFENCES have been put into place by a major housing developer to try to keep travellers at bay after its land was repeatedly invaded.
Taylor Wimpey deployed diggers to its land in Popley Way to create an earth “bund” (pictured) while a group of travellers were illegally camping on the site.
The group left last Tuesday night via a gap left for them to exit through, and this was then closed up after they had gone.
Taylor Wimpey spokeswoman Amy Taylor said: “Following discussions with the local authority, we have carried out minor works to prevent travellers from re-establishing themselves on the land we own at Popley Way.”
It is understood that the travellers convoy then moved to Priestley Road, near Basingstoke hospital, hours before the borough council was due to install wooden bollards to prevent illegal camps from using that site.
The travellers were camped right next to an underpass used by residents, mums delivering their children to Cornerstone’s Day Nursery and staff from Basingstoke hospital.
Borough council officers have told the travellers they have to leave by the middle of next week or face eviction.
Popley West Councillor Jane Frankum said her ward has seen a huge influx of travellers this year, with 18 incidents of illegal camps being set up compared to last year’s four.
She said: “Until we find a more permanent solution, this will happen again and again.”
Cllr Frankum and Popley East borough Cllr Andrew McCormick said a transit site, where travellers can camp temporarily and pay rent, could solve the problem. They said this would offer somewhere for them to go once they were told to leave illegal camps.
Cllr McCormick said: “If we do nothing, it will be the same next year. These guys are here for a reason. It is because they can get casual work like gardening and building work.”
However local resident Vernon Butcher, who lives in Merton Rise, Popley, questioned why taxpayers money should be used to establish and maintain a transit site.
The 38-year-old accountant said his neighbourhood has been blighted by travellers setting up camp, with dogs off leashes and human faeces left near pavements.
He said: “Travellers come into residential areas and expect us to pick up the tab in cleaning up after them, and providing a site.”
The father-of-two has now launched a petition against any permanent or transit sites being introduced in the borough.
On Friday, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council had five locations logged on its website where there are illegal camps. The sites are at Jays Close, next to Beverley Close, in Viables, the A33 near Whitmarsh Lane, in Chineham, Priestley Road, near the hospital, Churchill Way West, and Hamilton Close, in Houndmills.
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