A COUNCIL gearing up to evict travellers from a town centre sports ground this week is canvassing public support for a change in the laws to avoid a repeat of problems suffered this summer.

For almost six weeks a varying number of caravans - around 30 at one time - has been camped in the arena behind the 2Riversmeet sports centre at Christchurch leading to scores of complaints from local residents and traders over the mess, noise, petty crime and loss of public amenities.

Now police and council leaders are promising to get tough to ensure the travellers comply with a legal order to leave the site on or before the September 1 deadline set by an earlier court hearing.

And shoppers in the town's weekly market today will be invited to add their support to a petition calling for increased measures to combat the annual invasion of travellers on public spaces, car parks and farmland around the borough.

The petition will be presented to Christchurch council at its next meeting on September 14 when members will also be debating a motion presented by leader Cllr Alan Griffiths who is spearheading the borough campaign for improved legislation.

Cllr Griffiths said: "The council is determined not to let this situation continue and will press for a change in the law where the travellers' rights seem to well outweigh those of residents in the community they invade.

"It seems that whatever we do, we are thwarted and they certainly know, even the children, what they can and cannot get away with.

"They appear to have all the rights but none of the responsibilities to others that we accept as local citizens."

Several of the traveller families have already left the arena site but the council will be seeking a court order on Wednesday to remove any caravans remaining when the deadline expires.

First published: August 30