“Disgusting” travellers given boot from Waterlooville make Wickham their new home
Travellers pitch up at latest location as they continue tour of the area
“Disgusting” travellers given the boot from Waterlooville have now made Wickham their new temporary home.
Around 10 vehicles arrived in Wickham and Knowle Recreation Ground after leaving a small green space near Waterlooville town centre on the Berewood Estate, off Hambledon Road, on Wednesday July 8.
The flock at the Berewood Estate started off with around 10 caravans before bloating out to more than 20 vehicles after a few days to include more motorhomes, trucks, a wood shredder and even a horse. People in Wickham will be hoping further additions do not arrive where they live.
Police have already visited the new pitch with discussions beginning of securing their latest removal from land they are not permitted to be on.
A police spokesperson, who confirmed it was the same group of travellers as those in Waterlooville, said: “We are aware of an unauthorised encampment at the Wickham and Knowle Recreation Ground, which was reported to us on 8 July.
“Officers have attended the site to assess, and will be liaising with the landowner.”
Travellers had turned up in Waterlooville on Thursday July 2 before leaving piles of rubbish across the site, owned by developer Grainger.
In Havant, a group of nomads who camped on a field by the rugby club also left the area on Monday after they had moved on from a space off Old Copse Road and Stockheath Common. It is not known if they feature some of the same travellers as the ones who were in Waterlooville and now in Wickham.
One resident said: “It’s disgusting, they do it every time. They leave such a mess behind. It’s not nice for people who want to use the field when they’re here.”