LEISURE bosses have devised a package of barriers to keep travellers out of some of Bournemouth's favourite green sites.

Bournemouth Borough Council's cabinet will today (May 15) be asked to approve spending £62,400 on protecting spots such as Redhill Park, King's Park and Turbary Common this summer.

But council leader Cllr Bob Chapman was concerned about whether the proposals would work. "I have serious reservations on this because whatever measures we take, these people are known for just breaking into areas," he said.

"We want to be seen to be protecting these areas, particularly the very sensitive ones, but when we're faced with a convoy of 300 vans, whatever measures we carry out they're going to be difficult to protect," he added.

The area suffered a summer of trouble last year with travellers moving between several sites. More than 700 travellers descended on King's Park at Christmas in the area's worst-ever invasion.

Roger Brown, the council's head of leisure services, is suggesting measures such as low-level railings, height restrictions and earth barriers.

His report says: "The proposals put forward for improving site security follow a detailed evaluation of current sites owned by the borough and at risk from illegal encampments."

But he warned that "the proposed works should be seen as a deterrent and will not necessarily prevent unauthorised access to the sites."

The suggestions include spending £13,300 at Redhill Park on "knee rails" and locking posts. The park was targeted by travellers last year and locals marched on the Town Hall to demand they be kept out.

Redhill Park councillor Anne Rey said: "What we've got to do is prevent what happened at Redhill Park last year. We can't go through all that again."

The council is also working with police and other councils to produce a joint protocol for dealing with camps.

Proposed spending Redhill Park - £13,300 King's Park - cricket area £10,000, funfair site £2,500 Turbary Common - £9,000 Hengistbury Head - £7,200 Throop open space - £4,300 East Overcliff, adjacent to Manor Road - £3,500 Vicarage Fields, Northbourne - £300 Millhams Mead North - £300 Another £12,000 would be spent on areas which could attract travellers once known sites are made secure. These are: Muscliff Park, Duck Lane, Slades Farm, Strouden, Meyrick Park, Setley Gardens, Queen's Park West, West Overcliff, Southbourne Overcliff.