TRAVELLERS have set up camp at Baiter Park for the second month running, with residents complaining once again of reckless driving and damage in the area.

Poole council has confirmed an encampment of around eight caravans and other vehicles is at the site. The group reportedly arrived on Friday evening.

However, residents and visitors have said the travellers are “bombing up and down in cars on the path by the playground”, with claims they “nearly hit a cyclist and other pedestrians”.

Mike Randall said cars were being driven at around 50mph in the area at night.

“They’re driving their cars around like Silverstone,” he said yesterday.

“Although they’re not aggressive, they’re spreading themselves right across Baiter Park so people who want picnics are stuck on the edge. There’s also been no kite surfing this weekend when normally it would be packed.”

One resident said four boys were throwing bottles at holidaymakers sat on a balcony on Friday night. And another said he saw a police van arrive in the area at around 11.30pm.

“They forced a fence by the slipway to get into the park,” he said.

“It seems to be a regular thing. Every three to four weeks this time of year, a different crowd turn up.

“Stronger measures need to be put in place here to prevent the travellers getting onto the site. It’s becoming a holiday park.”

He added: “There was a car driving along the pedestrian footpath beeping at people, and some kids were trying to get onto people’s boats.”

A group of thirteen caravans and motorhomes set up camp at Baiter Park only in May, with police also called at the time to deal with reports of reckless driving in the area.

Frustrated residents have taken to social media about the current encampment, with some questioning why more powers are not given to police and the council to “evict them the minute they arrive”.

Poole council recently responded to a government consultation on powers for dealing with unauthorised encampments, including court processes, the provision of authorised sites, and the impact on the travelling community.

Cllr John Rampton, cabinet portfolio holder for environment and open spaces, said the council had submitted a “robust response explaining to government why additional powers are required to effectively manage unauthorised encampments”.

“The laws really are archaic. We need them updated to reflect the current situation, and we wait with bated breath for the government’s decision,” he said.

“People have high expectations of what councils can do, but we are hamstrung by the law. We don’t have a great deal of actual powers.

“We would like, for example, an ability for councils to designate certain areas of land, in particular parks and open spaces, so that it is a criminal offence to camp on them. We are also looking for legal changes to allow us to access transit sites outside our local authority area.”

He added police should use their powers under section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act for anyone “causing problems or denying people access to areas”.