TRAVELLERS have once more left a trail of rubbish behind them after a week of trespass in Basingstoke.

A total of ten caravans parked at Down Grange from August 8, and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council was in the process of taking action to force them to leave when they decided to move on.

Helen Bone, from High Drive on the Berg Estate, who walks her dog at Down Grange, said she was disgusted with their lack of respect for others.

She added: “There was rubbish everywhere across the whole park. There were groups of men loitering in the middle of the park and I did feel intimidated.”

The 35-year-old said she had seen the travellers dump their rubbish in the bushes and use the hedgerows as a toilet.

She added: “It’s infuriating. If for any reason I didn’t pick up after my dog I would be fined. They get away scot free.”

About 15 caravans were also seen at the woodland park in Beggarwood behind the commercial units in Wallop Drive on August 7. They stayed there until August 16 when they were served with a court order to move on.

Antony Isaac, of nearby Beggarwood Lane, said that the travellers had left heaps of rubbish and a large black scorch mark from a fire on the grass.

The 44-year-old said: “It was a complete mess.”

Lisa Kirkman, the borough council’s interim head of environmental care, said: “Cleaning up the site in Beggarwood after the travellers left took considerable time and resources – a lot more than is usual.”

l On Wednesday the community wellbeing committee of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council will consider a report on unauthorised traveller camps. In 2009 there were 64 recorded by the borough council – an increase of 13 on the previous year.

A report on the public consultation conducted by the borough council says a small number of people responded with views that constitute “hate crime” towards gypsies and travellers “who are recognised as the most deprived of minority ethnic groups”.

See the Monday Gazette for a fuller report.