Fareham Borough Council says it is "taking steps to regain possession of its land" after a group of travellers were seen setting up camp on the grounds of a leisure centre.

On Tuesday it was reported in the Echo that a group of travellers were pitched up on the site of Fareham’s largest leisure centre.

Managed by leisure centre operator, Everyone Active, Fareham Leisure Centre on Park Lane is one of the busiest centres in Hampshire and is owned by Fareham Borough Council.

Arriving on Sunday, a large group from the traveller community is currently parked in the car park of Fareham Leisure Centre.

In response, Hampshire police said it would be stepping up patrols in the area while the council attempts to "regain possession of its land".

On Wednesday, Fareham Borough Council has issued a statement detailing its plans for dealing with the traveller group.

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A spokesperson for Fareham Borough Council said: “The group arrived on the Fareham Leisure Centre site on the evening of Sunday, June 9.

“The Council’s Enforcement Team attended the location and later served the group a letter to quit Section 77.

“The Council is liaising with police and have commenced the civil steps to regain possession of our land.”

When dealing with traveller encampments on council-owned land, the authority said that if the travellers are causing problems they will be moved on as soon as is possible and reasonable.

Nationally if travellers set up on council-owned land, the group will be instructed to leave immediately by a council officer.

In all cases, whether the site is privately owned or belonging to the council, the site is visited by the council and every effort made to make sure that travellers keep the site tidy and do not cause public health problems.

The council will then look at preventative measures for the vacated site to try to prevent travellers returning to the site at a later date.

A spokesperson for Hampshire police said: "We were called shortly after 8:30pm on Monday, June 10, to an unauthorised encampment of three caravans at Fareham Leisure Centre car park on Park Lane.

"We are assisting Fareham Borough Council as the landowner and lead authority.

"The Neighbourhood Policing Team is continuing to engage with all parties involved and is carrying out regular patrols in the area to ensure that any concerns from all communities involved are addressed."