A TRAIL of destruction and rubbish has been left by travellers after camping on a Basingstoke conservation area.

As previously reported in The Gazette, a group of travellers had set up camp in Russell Howard Park, in South Ham, but due to a police order were moved on last week.

However, the group soon set up camp in Down Grange, Kempshott, less than two miles away.

The group were moved on by Tuesday this week but there were left behind piles of rubbish and make-shift fire pits, which have damaged parts of the conservation area and goods including a washing machine and a sofa bed were dumped.

The Gazette has received several reports this group are jumping from site to site leaving a trail of mess and damage.

Jeremy Stewart said: “One of the traveller boys has been targeting local kids with a slingshot. I understand that because they were able to open a gate to access the common then they have a right to stay for a month.

“Incidentally I am not tarring them all with the same brush as I walk through the area regularly and I have both chatted to the adults and played with their young dogs with no hostility at all. However, some restraint somewhere is clearly needed.”

Another resident who didn’t wish to be named added: “They seem to keep coming back to Basingstoke as they know it is an affluent area, and they can get odd jobs like cutting people’s hedges etc.

“It seems like they can come and go as they please and more needs to be done.”

Due to the length of time the travellers were on the private land, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) had to apply for a court order to move the group on.

Head of environmental services at BDBC Colin Rowland said as part of the process a team of officers would visit the site and carry out a welfare assessment.

Mr Rowland said: “If this doesn’t highlight any urgent issues as to why a group has had to stop in that location, we will issue a direction for them to leave, to be complied with within a day, or a maximum of two days.”

“If this isn’t complied with we’re required to go to court to apply for an order, and demonstrate that the group has not left as directed.

“If that order is granted, the expectation is that the group will leave with immediate effect.”