FED-up residents’ leaders in Poole are calling for crisis talks after travellers turned another of the town’s beauty spots into a no-go area for residents.

Terry Stewart, chairman of the Southern Poole Chairmen’s Group of residents’ associations – which together represent around 10,000 households – has formally asked for a meeting with the council, police and MPs.

He is calling for the agencies to work with residents to develop an action plan for dealing with future invasions of public open space such as the recent encampments at Baiter and Whitecliff, where Irish travellers have moved next to the children’s playground.

Since the incursion, the police and council have received complaints about people driving across the grass, using intimidatory and foul language towards passers-by, failing to control dogs and depositing human waste around the popular recreation area.

When an Echo photographer visited the area yesterday, a woman demanded to see the photographs he had taken. After he refused, he was threatened with violence.

Mr Stewart, who is also president of the Branksome, Canford Cliffs and District Residents’ Association, said: “Residents like to take exercise on Whitecliff park and like to take their children to the playground. They are being prevented from doing so. We have this problem year after year, yet the council doesn’t do anything constructive.

“At least we have persuaded them that there’s human waste spread over the Whitecliff car park. The travellers have let their dogs run wild in the playground and have been racing their vehicles across the cricket pitch. The council has finally admitted that there might be justification for taking it to court.”

Mr Stewart says the issue of the travellers had prompted more emails from residents than any other subject, and that the perceived lack of action was damaging trust in the council and police.

In recent weeks, groups of travellers – many from Ireland – have been playing a cat and mouse game with authorities.

Among the other places they have set up unauthorised encampments are Rockley Park and Turlin Moor Recreation Ground in Poole; Upton Farm; Slades Farm and Pelhams Park in Bournemouth; West Parley in East Dorset and Radipole Park in Weymouth.

Jeff Morley, regulatory services team manager, Borough of Poole, said: “The council is aware of residents’ concerns regarding travellers on Whitecliff.

“Following a number of reported incidents, including reports of human excrement being left, we have commenced legal proceedings to evict the travellers and have a court date for Monday July 29. The travellers have been served notice to leave the site.

“There are ongoing drainage issues with public toilets on Whitecliff and we are working to resolve these. The men’s toilet is currently closed but we hope to have it reopened as quickly as possible.”

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