Travellers invade town ahead of steam fair (From Thisisdorset)

Travellers invade town ahead of steam fair

7:00pm Friday 24th August 2007 in News By Louise Dunderdale

TRAVELLERS broke through a fence and illegally camped in Blandford ahead of the Great Dorset Steam Fair, which opens on Wednesday.

Police patrol cars and the police helicopter were sent to deal with around 60 occupants of 13 caravans.

Travellers turned up on Thursday at Blandford Leisure Centre, drove on the playing fields and made a mess of the cricket pitch and reduced leisure centre staff to tears.

The travellers were moved to the bypass by Tesco, but cut their way into Stour Meadows.

They were still there yesterday morning before the official travellers site, on a field at Tarrant Hinton some 200 yards from the steam fair, was due to open at 1pm. But police said last night that all the travellers had since either moved to the authorised site or left the county.

Martin Oliver, the managing director of the fair, is working in partnership with Dorset County Council, North Dorset District Council and Dorset Police.

Mr Oliver said the local authority had provided a site for travellers and he was confident the police would move the travellers on to it.

Dave Ayre, head of gypsy and traveller services at Dorset County Council, said a gypsy liason officer had asked the travellers to move to the authorised site on Friday morning but the travellers had refused to do so.

"The police are now arranging for them to be directed under their additional powers as we have an authorised site," he said.

"We will be ready to receive travellers from about 1pm."

Mr Ayre said any traveller who refused to follow the instructions of the police would be committing a criminal offence.

He said the travellers would have the first night camping for free at the official site, but thereafter would have to pay £10 per night.

He said the charge was brought in after consultation with residents.

"We are trialling that this year. When we have set up authorised sites before we have not charged for them."

A North Dorset District Council spokesman said community beat officers had been handing out leaflets to householders in the Blandford area to remind them the steam fair is coming and to secure homes and cars, and be aware there will be more traffic. Information is also being distributed to parish councils.

Inspector Ernie Healey said: "There are 13 caravans and associated touring vehicles and around 60 people with them, many of them family members."

He said the police, councils and fair organiser were working together to resolve the issue.

Last year there was no authorised travellers site and encampments set up at Stour Meadows and on Leigh Common in Wimborne.