Fury as travellers descend on UK village despite new £18k barrier

Travellers have descended on a UK village for the fourth time this year despite the local council spending £18,000 on a barrier to stop them. Around 15 caravans arrived in the village on Sunday evening (April 12) before police were called.

The travellers moved onto a recreation ground in Milton, Kent, after ripping a metal bollard to gain access. They managed to bypass the 50cm wooden barrier that was erected by Swale Borough Council after an extended occupation last year. Locals have since slammed the fence, which stands at just over knee high, as “useless”, while the council insisted it had done its job.

As reported by The Sun, CCTV footage captured the travellers ripping the bollard from the ground. Local councillors noted that its removal amounted to criminal damage and made it easier for police to remove the travellers on Monday afternoon (April 13).

The £18,000 wooden barrier was installed after a group of travellers remained on the green space for several weeks last year. It was hoped to prevent them from returning, but local people have questioned the money that was spent.

Caoibhe Winskill, 56, who runs the Three Hats pub in Milton, said: “Well they had to do something. I think it would’ve been better if they had done mounds of soil, which would’ve grown over with grass and then the chassis of the caravans would never have got over them.”

Meanwhile, 78-year-old dog walker Ken Highland added: “What is going to stop them if they really want to? If they are that determined to get in they will.” When asked whether the fencing had been good value for money, he replied: “No, not really.”

However, Labour councillor Tony Winckless believes the fence served its purpose. It slowed the set-up of the camp and allowed police to swiftly remove the travellers.

He explained: “The fact that the fencing was put up, the fact it was witnessed when the post was taken out, meant the police could automatically remove them, which was what they did on Monday afternoon between 4pm and 5pm.”

Other locals have been left furious with the mess left behind by the travellers. A 73-year-old pensioner claimed they are dreading a repeat of the situation in the future.

They said: “Last year there were three lots of travellers. Now we’re wondering whether they are going to come back. Because now we know they can break the fence, are they going to come back? There was lots of rubbish. A lorry came round and picked up all the rubbish.”

A Swale Borough Council spokesperson confirmed that 450 metres of fencing had been installed. They added: “The recent illegal encampment entered through a different part of the park on Sunday evening.”