THE Borough of Poole is negotiating with a group of travellers to try and agree a date for them to leave the town's park-and-ride site.

The group arrived at the site in Upton Road, Creekmoor, at around 4.30pm on Sunday, using a disc cutter to cut the gate and gain access.

Yesterday there were nine caravans plus a number of other vehicles on the site.

Council officers have handed out rubbish bags and made the site secure by placing skips at the entrances.

Users of the park-and-ride site, including Poole Hospital staff, have been re-directed to other car parks in the town but locals are saying the invasion could have been prevented.

HGV driver Cliff Molyneaux, 42, said he spotted a van trying to gain access to the site and called both Dorset Police and Borough of Poole to warn them.

Despite waiting at the park-and-ride for around half an hour, Mr Molyneaux, from Upton, said no one turned up and that, when he drove past again the following morning, the site was full.

He added: "I just find it amazing that when they've been given good warning they can't respond.

"Now it's going to cost the council tax payers of Poole thousands of pounds to clear up all their rubbish."

Another angry resident added: "It's an insult that awe have to pay taxes."

Matthew Blythe, principal officer with the council's environmental and consumer protection services, said: "We are working with the police and other agencies to monitor the site and carry out statutory welfare checks on the travellers, who include a number of children.

"The council will also be attempting to negotiate an agreed departure date with the travellers.

"To date there have been no complaints of anti-social behaviour to the council and black bin bags have been issued to help keep the site tidy," he added.

A council spokeswoman said officers had arrived at the site at 5pm, just after Mr Molyneaux left, and that the council felt 40 minutes was a good response time.

A group of travellers has also arrived at a site behind Bowden Road in Alderney. A council spokeswoman confirmed the same statutory visits were taking place and that there were currently three caravans, a camper van and a lorry on the site.

First published: September 6