TRAVELLERS camped on a children's play area in Bournemouth will be moved on 'as soon as possible', the council said yesterday.

Around 15 caravans moved onto the area at Riggs Gardens, Turbary Common, on Friday.

Andy McDonald, parks manager, parks and open spaces at Bournemouth council, said: “Our council officers are aware of the recent unauthorised encampment at Riggs Gardens Play Area.

"They are doing all they can, taking the necessary legal action to move them on as soon as possible. In the meantime, our council officers are visiting the site on a regular basis to monitor the situation.”

This morning the authority said the travellers have been given notice that a court hearing will be held on Friday to apply for an eviction order.

The group had moved from Haskells Rec at Parkstone, having previously been at Broadstone Rec. A Neighbourhood Watch newsletter sent around the Broadstone area and published online has claimed that the council ignored warnings.

The Echo was unable to contact chairman Roy Godfrey, who is also a Broadstone councillor, yesterday, but he wrote in his chairman's report: “Our police team advised the council that the travellers were likely to move on to Broadstone Rec and requested that large waste skips full of bricks or stones be placed at the entrance, but the requests were ignored.

“I share the concern and frustration of residents.

“Councillor Mike Brooke, councillor Vikki Slade and I have been chasing the council over the past year asking for proper protection for the rec; the dragon's teeth are useless.”

Jeff Morley, regulatory team manager at the Borough of Poole, said it did not receive any specific information over the site.

“We do continually review all potential sites in the borough to ensure sufficient measures are in place to deter unauthorised encampments. Where we are aware that a particular site is being targeted, we identify any further measures that could be taken, while still providing access for legitimate use such as local residents and maintenance contractors,” he said.

He said an additional concrete block had been installed at the Barn Road entrance and a resident saw a traveller partly cut through a wooden dragon's tooth.

He also said kerbstones were placed at the entrance.

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