Fury as Travellers Bypass £18k Fence to Occupy Kent Car Park
Families in Sittingbourne, Kent, have expressed outrage after a group of travellers allegedly used an angle grinder to remove a bollard and gain entry to Milton Recreation Ground, despite the local council spending £18,000 on new fencing to prevent such incidents. This marks the fourth time travellers have invaded the site, with the latest incursion occurring this week and leaving behind numerous bags of rubbish that required council cleanup.
Security Measures Prove Ineffective
Swale Borough Council had invested £18,000 in enhanced fencing after repeated traveller entries last year, but the new group managed to bypass these measures within a short period. The travellers are thought to have cut through a bollard to drive onto the land, staying for approximately 24 hours before being moved on by authorities. Despite their brief occupation, council officials had to conduct multiple visits to remove the waste left behind, adding to the financial burden.
Local Residents Voice Concerns
Paul Hubbard, a 69-year-old local resident, described the situation as "ridiculous" and expressed deep concern over the ease with which the travellers gained access. "They spent all of that money stopping them but they have just been able to get on straight away," he told the Daily Mail. "It's shocking really. I think police knew who some of them were and they had injunctions against them. So they were able to act quicker than usual. But I just think what was the point of the bollards really?"
Terry Hunt, a 56-year-old plumber who has lived in Sittingbourne for three decades, called the incident "worrying" and predicted further occurrences. "They were here a few times last year. It's sad they spent thousands removing them but then have done exactly the same. I have no doubt they will be back. They do whatever they want. The police are scared of them. It's a joke."
Additional Costs and Mess Left Behind
Lee Dodds, a waste removal worker for Swale Borough Council, confirmed that the council had to make two visits to clear the rubbish, which some locals speculated might have originated from as far as Guildford in Surrey. Another resident lamented, "They've left a right mess. The council waste people have had to come twice because there was so much rubbish. Why is this allowed to happen?" The travellers also allegedly used the toilets without permission during their stay.
This incident follows similar traveller "land grabs" in other parts of Kent and Surrey, as well as in Flamstead, Hertfordshire, highlighting ongoing challenges for local authorities in managing such encampments. Swale Borough Council was approached for comment but has not yet responded.
