A VICTORY in the High Court has been hailed as great result for communities beset by illegal traveller encampments.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council was in court on Monday bidding to gain an interim injunction effectively banning travellers from setting up unauthorised encampments or developments on sites they do not own in a large portion of the borough.

After a near eight month process and the gathering of more than 1,500 pages of evidence, the borough council, which brought forward the action with Hampshire County Council, the interim measure was granted by His Lordship Peter Hughes QC .

Court papers cite more than 100 named defendants but anyone who breaks the injunction, which begins immediately, faces the threat of arrest if they do not leave a site immediately when asked to.

Councillor Simon Bound, cabinet member for communities and community safety, said: "You do not enter into process lightly. We have to recognise that our residents have said 'enough is enough' but we also had to prove that to the court.

“This action has been taken given the serious problems these encampments regularly cause including noise, nuisance, intimidation and fly-tipped waste left on land and human excrement.

"Finding a long-term solution to deal with repeated unauthorised encampments has been a top priority for us and we have been working on it for over half a year now, but have been unable to talk about the legal action we were planning.

“This interim injunction is about upholding the law, responding and listening to the concerns of residents and businesses and protecting the borough’s green open spaces and business areas.

"It is not about persecuting any particular group of people or their way of life.

"It is not about singling out gypsies and travellers but it is about singling out bad behaviour and the problems and the impact it has on communities."

In its submission, the council cited both the damaging effect communities face from some illegal encampments - including anti-social behaviour and the dumping of waste - and the financial costs.

Since April 2016, the borough council has spent £105,000 on clearing up after illegal encampments, £43,500 'defending land' from being accessed for illegal use and £4,600 in legal costs.

Elsewhere, the councils spoke to 10 owners of 53 pieces of private land in the borough affected by illegal sites which together cited costs of £55,877 while Hampshire County Council had costs of in excess of £31,000.

These reasons for the application were enhanced by the sheer number of illegal encampments in the borough. Hampshire County Council estimated 42 per cent of all unauthorised encampments in 2017 were in Basingstoke and Deane.

There have been 158 encampments set up from April 2016 to June 14 this year in the borough.

Council officers and members are hopeful the arrest threat from the injunction will reduce the amount of time and costs it takes to move people on from illegal encampments - down from up to potentially 10 working days to as low as one hour once asked to move on.

Cllr Bound added: "I'm hopeful it will mean individuals won't even bother to set up or try to set up an encampment.

"It cannot be a stronger deterrent, with the powers we have been given."

The councils and the defendants identified in the court documents are due back in front of the High Court within six months as a permanent injunction will be applied for.

The interim injunction covers the urbanised Basingstoke town area of the borough plus outlying areas of Bramley and Silchester and a small parcel of land at Stratfield Turgis..

Leader of Hampshire County Council Cllr Roy Perry said: “I welcome the High Court ruling as it sends a clear message that we, as local authorities, take firm and decisive action with regards to unauthorised encampments where appropriate, protecting residents from anti-social and illegal behaviour such as fly tipping, threats and intimidation and nuisance issues.

“This is a really good example of how our two councils have worked collaboratively, using our joint expertise, to secure a positive result for the residents of Basingstoke.

“We hope the ruling deters individuals from flouting these rules and regulations in the future.”