Why are the travellers still here?

CONCERNED residents on the outskirts of Lewes have called on the district council to take action over travellers who have camped on the Stanley Turner Recreation Ground.

Different travellers have used the hockey area at the recreation ground at various times since April and claims were made this week that hygiene problems are resulting.

Two people living nearby told the Express this week that they had complained to the council but were frustrated that nothing was happening.

Wendy Brewer, of Kingston Road, said she was very unhappy with the situation. She said: 'The whole area is disgusting. I haven't been able to walk my dog around there for quite some time now. The whole area is just a complete and utter mess, it really is filthy.'

'There is human excrement and used condoms and toilet paper strewn across the field. It really is disgusting and unhygienic. I hate to think who has to clear it all up. All we need is some reassurance that this will not happen again.'

June Tugwell, of Hillyfield, said: 'The travellers living in the area at the moment are abusive and do not care about anyone else. There are very large dogs running around loose. Some of them are quite frightening. Children are driving big beach buggies round the fields. They are dangerous, not only to the people who want to walk through the field but also to themselves.

'Once removed, there is nothing to prevent the travellers coming back into the field. The little wooden fence, which is there at the moment, is useless because they just break it down. Lewes District Council are a disaster.'

A council spokesperson said: 'Whenever we get complaints about travellers we do deal with them. We go down and see them and we have to give them a health questionnaire. Legally we have to do that because travellers have rights to stay in places, if they need a hospital for example.

'As far as we're aware there are six vans and we are in the process of moving them. The problem is that it's public land. We can't really stop them from being there.'

The police are aware of the travellers, but say they have not had any problems so far.