COURT proceedings have been launched to evict travellers who have set up temporary home on a Ringwood recreation ground.

More than a dozen caravans moved on to Carvers recreation area in Ringwood town centre on Monday night.

Town clerk Terry Simpson said: “We’ve had a number of people complaining about anti-social behaviour on what is a very attractive and high profile site.

“They say we shouldn’t have invited them here but that’s just not the case; the area was secured but unfortunately the lock failed.

“We have had to cancel cricket this weekend and it’s going to cost us thousands of pounds to get the site back to its former state.”

Mr Simpson said the police had already obtained a notice to evict the travellers, adding: “They were supposed to serve it on Tuesday but we’ve been told that they didn’t have the necessary manpower to move the travellers on.

“We are also getting a magistrates’ notice so we can evict them ourselves; either way the travellers should be moved on very soon.” Tim Whitfield contacted the Daily Echo after the travellers moved on to the recreation area. He said: “There has been a startling lack of action from the local authorities to assuage the concerns of local residents. The main gates are still wide open.”

Carvers recreation ground on Southampton Road boasts tennis courts, a bowling green, children’s playground and skate park as well as football, rugby and cricket facilities.

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