TRAVELLERS have moved on to a prominent Bournemouth town centre car park, to the concern of shoppers and residents.

The camp of 10 caravans, four vans and two cars took up much of Terrace Mount car park yesterday, with only a few other drivers choosing to park there.

A few children and two dogs were wandering around the old Winter Gardens site, owned by Bournemouth Council. Members of the public have called the police since the first travellers pitched up on Tuesday, April 3.

Upper Terrace Road resident of five years, Pat Challis, said: “It’s a nuisance. People are reluctant to park in the car park for a start and feel a bit worried about it.

“Every year they come and usually they take up virtually half the car park.”

The camp has been gradually growing since Thursday, she said.

“Over the Easter weekend there were more,” she said.

“I think it affects people that are parking there definitely.

“But the travellers aren’t paying – that’s what incenses me. If we went up there and took up a double space we would get a ticket.”

Neighbour Vito Fereti, a property developer, said he had received a letter from the council to say they were aware of the problem.

“I’m a bit worried,” he said. “We would usually have our work vehicles parked up there with all our tools inside.”

He and a friend estimated the settlement included 10 dogs and 20 children.

Barbara Lawson, from Christchurch, left her husband in the car as she popped to the shops.

“I was absolutely amazed to see all the caravans here,” Mrs Lawson, 64, said. “I would feel a bit reticent about leaving the car here without my husband – I would definitely have thought about going to park somewhere else. I’m really not happy about it at all and would fully support any quick action to move them on.”

Bournemouth council officers have told the travellers to move on or face an eviction order.

The council has applied for a court hearing and is carrying out daily visits and litter picks, along with Dorset Police.