COUNCILLORS have called for increased legislation to deal with travellers after a leisure centre in Kinson closed early yesterday because of safety concerns.

Pelhams Park Leisure Centre closed four hours early because of “unacceptable behaviour” from travellers towards employees and customers and Dorset Police attended the incident.

Mike Lyons, BH Live Director of Leisure Facilities said: “I can confirm Pelhams Park Leisure Centre temporarily closed at approximately 3.30pm on Sunday July 21. This was due to safety concerns and unacceptable behaviour from several individuals towards employees and customers.”

Bournemouth Council announced the town was on “lockdown” on Thursday July 18 after it successfully evicted a group of travellers from Slades Farm.

A short time later, 13 traveller caravans set up two miles up the road on the green opposite Pelhams Leisure Centre in Kinson and moved a boulder to gain entrance.

Michael Rowland, Parks Development Manager, said: ““A needs assessment has been carried out with the travellers in the grounds of Pelhams Park Leisure Centre and they have been informed that they must move.

“Currently our council officers are taking action to seek a court hearing as soon as possible to reclaim the land and if necessary to appoint bailiffs to evict.

“In addition to this we are working closely with BH Live to monitor the situation and ensure that this does not impact on the services the leisure centre provides to local residents.”

The Centre was reopened today and will continue to monitor the situation.

Councillor Dennis Gritt said: “The situation is regrettable because last year we were told measures would be put in place to make the area safe and protected from incursions, but that just has not happened.

“They moved boulders to get into the area, and I would have thought that was a crime and I have also heard from one of my residents that they have been riding quad bikes around over the grass.

“It is a very expensive problem and the residents in the area are fed up, the council seems powerless to stop them.

“The councillors in this area want to see more legislation to deal with the problem.”

Member at Pelhams Park Leisure Centre, Mike White said he arrived at 3pm on Sunday July 21 to find the centre closed, with no notifications to customers or message on the website.

“I'm just annoyed that the centre made no effort to contact the members at all. When I arrived I saw motorbikes and quad bikes driving around and what looked like a security van parked in front of the entrance to stop the 'visitors' going in.”

  • ALL travellers have now moved off the land at Turlin Moor Recreation Ground. Officers from the Borough of Poole council visited the site on Saturday afternoon and all caravans and motor homes had left the site.
  • Elsewhere in Poole, eight caravans and a motorhome remain on the site of Whitecliff Harbourside Park, on Whitecliff Road, which Poole council officers continue to monitor.

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