With reference to your article Police ‘watched travellers pitch up’, March 27) this is not the first time police have watched travellers set up an illegal encampment.

Residents of Moulsecoomb have witnessed this on more than one occasion and we have to wait weeks to get them moved with the help of our local MP.

If the council and police really wanted to they could use community protection notices from the Crime and Policing Act 2014.

It is the residents who have to pick up the cost to clear the mess they leave behind.

Under a Freedom of Information request in 2013/14 the legal fees to the council relating to travellers was £54,033.14 and the cost for rubbish collection £132,007.30.

For one single encampment of 25 travellers and 17 gypsies near the Devils Dyke the total cost was £38,097.81 and bailiffs were £3,430.

This was without the cost of police time or city parks. This is all money that could be used better. This year the cost will be higher.

John Marchant, Moulsecoomb