I READ your article about travellers (Bournemouth Echo, Friday June 29) with interest. I would like to respond to the concerns of Geoff Budden, Chairman of the Friends of Kinson Common, regarding the protection of North Bournemouth’s valuable nature reserves.

In response, I have written to Mr Budden to assure him that council officers are working hard to protect these areas along with other sites across the Borough.

We are also in contact with Natural England to see if it is possible to work with them on any joint initiatives to better protect these parts of the town.

I completely share the frustration of Bournemouth’s residents and visitors who find open spaces and car parks occupied and unavailable for use because of unauthorised encampments. We have had an unprecedented number of illegal encampments so far this year and although this has put enormous strain on the council’s limited resources, we are doing everything that is legally required to evict these people and make the sites secure, regardless of the unwelcome cost.

The council will of course continue to endeavour to limit the disruption and inconvenience caused and will work with the police to ensure that we use our limited powers to best effect. However, the action we are able to take in these situations is limited by national legislation. What we need is a change in the law to allow us to deal with these unwelcome visitors much more effectively and to hold them responsible for the full costs as would apply to anybody else.

Finally, we are very grateful for any information supplied by local residents who suspect that an unauthorised occupation is about to take place as this has been very useful in preventing some of the intended incursions across Bournemouth.

Cllr John Beesley, Leader of Bournemouth Council