BRIGHTON and Hove City Council has been criticised for “laying down the welcome mat for travellers”.

A group of about ten caravans set up camp on Hove Lawns on Monday last week and were still there as The Argus went to press yesterday.

Residents have accused the council of acting slowly and criticised the authority for not ensuring travellers leave the site, near the King Alfred leisure centre.

Graham Cox, Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Hove, and current city councillor for Westbourne ward, said the council had effectively “laid down the welcome mat for travellers”.

He said: “The council is not asking the police to exercise their powers under section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

“Whilst there has been complaints about caravans parked on the lawns, there has been no complaints about behaviour – so they refuse to act.

“I’ve asked the council at least twice to do something but they are still there. The general feeling is that it’s outrageous. People say you have to pay to park in the King Alfred but not on Hove Lawns obviously in this case.

“Taking this long to get them to leave just lays down the welcome mat for further groups across the city in the future.”

A disgruntled resident told The Argus: “Is the Green council saying it’s ok for anybody to use the lawn? As our parking fees are excessively high why can’t the general public and the rate payers use this lawn for parking?”

Concern had been raised that the travellers would disrupt the Foodies Festival, set to take place on Hove Lawns this weekend. Organiser Gary Anderson said he was not aware the travellers were on the lawns, but said he would call the council to clarify the situation.

He said: “It doesn’t sound like they’re near the part of the lawns we use but I’ll give them a call anyway.”

A statement from Brighton and Hove City Council said: "We have visited this site with the police and a community impact assessment has been carried out. The families have been informed they are trespassing on council-owned land and have been asked to leave.

"We have instructed our legal team to issue court proceedings, and we are seeking a possession order of this land in court on Friday 1 May, so that we can arrange for an eviction to be carried out. Whilst this encampment remains we will continue to monitor the site with the police, and all enforcement options will be kept under review.”

Background

THE current fleet of caravans are not the first on Hove Lawns.

In September the travelling community occupied the site as part of their ‘holidays’.

The group, travelling in luxury caravans, promptly received parking tickets as they soaked up the Sussex sun on the grass.

The travellers and their 10 vehicles immediately sparked complaints from locals about rubbish strewn over the lawn.

Council officials visited the travellers with police and traffic wardens to issue penalty charge notices to some of their vehicles, and also served them with a notice to leave the area.