POOLE has no plans to re-open its search for a temporary transit site in the borough, despite 10 camps in the last three months on council land.

Since April there have been incursions at Upton Country Park, on council car parks including at Sandbanks and the latest two were seven caravans at Verity Park, Canford Heath and a further 19 caravans and motorhomes at Baiter.

Having tried and failed to find a temporary transit site, in April last year the council admitted defeat and decided to concentrate on protecting vulnerable sites and providing toilets and skips when unauthorised camps were set up.

“The council has undergone an exercise in trying to identify a suitable site and shortlisted 90 possible locations," said Cllr John Rampton, cabinet portfolio holder for parks and open spaces, Borough of Poole.

"Of these, non have proved possible to bring forward. Poole is a small town surrounded by greenbelt, the sea and SSSI protected regions. We simply do not believe we have the land of sufficient size available to be able to bring forward a temporary stopping place or transit site at the present time,” he said.

While earth banks have been built, entrances protected and rocks and wooden posts put in at vulnerable sites, residents near open spaces where security has been breached are calling for more protection.

After the seventh incursion in 15 months at Baiter, Mike Randall, chairman of Parkstone Bay Association, collected a 150-signature petition.

"We believe it’s time for the council to be a little more proactive rather than to just react when trespass occurs," he said. They are calling for entrances and exits to Harbourside 2 car park to be narrowed "as a mater of urgency".

Cllr Sandra Moore, Liberal Democrat member for Canford Heath East, was pleased the wildflower covered bund at Verity Park had stood firm. However travellers got in through a footpath gate.

"I thought it was narrow and they did damage some caravans getting in," she said. "They took the gate off to get out. It has now been welded."

Details on the 10 encampments over the past three months 

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