Travellers in Riverside Park: Angry residents seek answers from police

Residents said they feel ‘fearful’ and ‘intimidated’ following the travellers' arrival last week.

Voicing their concerns at a Police and Community Together Meeting, people urged the police to make assurances that they are safe.

Speaking at the meeting, held at Townhill Park Community Centre, Andrew Horton said there is a ‘tense’ atmosphere at the park.

Travellers in Riverside Park (Image: Newsquest)

The 43-year-old Bitterne Park resident said: “I have total respect for travellers, but there is a sense of fear and discomfort with some members of the community, as raised in this meeting.

“I came here today to see what the update was from the police and what action plan there was to deal with this fear and intimidation people have been feeling, including myself.

“I took my young kids to the Riverside Park play area at the weekend and it was completely empty. There was a tense atmosphere.

“People want to feel safe and feel like they can use the recreational facilities safely and without intimidation.”

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Police Sergeant Harry Grant led the meeting, which was attended by residents and councillors alike.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, asked Sergeant Grant: “How can we as the public be assured that we are safe? Is this being controlled?

“I don’t feel like I have rights, and I feel like the rights are on the side of the travellers.”

Sergeant Grant confirmed that the site will not be patrolled by officers every day and that certain criteria need to be met for action to be taken by the force.

He said: “Patrols can’t be done there every day and night.

“There’s a very particular criteria that needs to be met – there needs to be significant damage or disruption.”

But Tony Bunday, councillor for Bitterne Park, reassured people that the travellers should vacate the site this week.

He said: “Active Nation, who own the land, served the eviction notice last Friday.

“Once that has gone through the court, the travellers have 24 hours to leave. I am very confident they will be gone by the end of this week.

“We already have a plan in place to do a clean-up as there’s a lot of dumping of waste and defecation in bushes.”

The recent spate of vandalism at allotments on Witts Hill was also discussed.

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Plot owners have been subjected to cut fences and destroyed chicken runs in recent months.

Keith Herring, 72, whose family has owned a plot at the allotment site since the 1950s, said: “I came to this meeting because of the aggression that’s happening at the allotments.

“People are throwing at sticks and stones, trying to hit people working in their allotments.

“Somebody is going to be injured. I wanted to come to this meeting and say my piece, and I am very glad I did.”

Sergeant Grant said: “I am aware of this; it has been raised to me.

“We had officers up there patrolling the area and we will continue to do patrols.”