Updated: Travellers Move Out Of Effingham Playing Fields – Trustees Clear Up

Published on: 2 Sep, 2017
Updated on: 3 Sep, 2017

Gypsy and Traveller encampment on Effingham’s playing fields.

The last of the Gypsies and Travellers encamped on the King George V Playing Fields at Effingham left today.

Despite fly-tipped garden waste, excrement left in the bushes and general household rubbish left behind it was said that, “It could have been a lot worse.”  – Photo Liz Hogger

After three-quarters of the caravans had departed yesterday (Friday, September 1, 2017) nearby residents reported that the remaining four caravans had also departed at around 5pm.

A lot of the rubbish left behind had been placed into bags and bins provided by EVRT. – Photo Liz Hogger

But a few minutes later the same four were seen to drive back on to the King George V playing fields, eventually pitching on a different area of the fields, closer to the A246 Guildford Road.

This morning (Saturday) at 11am the four caravans were still there but they too finally left  around noon, reiterating that they were off to Bournemouth for a ‘Light and Life’ event. It also emerged that the reason for their return was to fix a puncture on one of the caravans.

Earlier this week, an Effingham Village Recreational Trust (EVRT) representative told the parish council that a Possession Order should come into effect on Monday, September 4 and if the caravans did not depart by that time then bailiffs would be employed to remove them.

After the departure EVRT trustees were seen clearing up the site. Trustees Liz and Chris Hogger, spent five hours on the task commenting: “It could have been a lot worse.”

Trustees Liz and Chris Hogger clearing up the site.

The Gypsies and Travellers had used the wheelie bins and bags provided by EVRT but there had been some fly tipping of garden waste, excrement left in the bushes and general household rubbish left behind.

Some of the fly-tipped garden waste left behind. – Photo Liz Hogger

EVRT on their website stated: “This has not been an easy ten days for the trust, especially given the aggravating behaviour of a few residents, but the site is now virtually back to normal and we hope that everyone can now resume fully their enjoyment of the grounds in the summer sunshine.

The re-secured access gate to the KGV playing fields.

“The gates have been re-secured but a more permanent and reliable solution will need to be implemented as soon as possible.”

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