TRAVELLERS have been moved to a conservation area as a multimillion-pound dedicated site is now full.

The caravans, which have been camping at Patcham Place, off London Road, Brighton, have been told they can now use Waterhall Car Park by Brighton and Hove City Council.

Travellers usually have access to the Horsdean transit site in St Michael’s Way, which has space 21 pitches.

But access has been restricted due to “public health concerns” around social distancing.

The council said there are now three pitches occupied with three families at the site.

Speaking about the groups moved from Patcham Place, Gill Williams, the council’s chairwoman of housing, said: “These Travellers consist of a newly arrived group with six caravans and a group with five caravans who were on Patcham Place.

“The group with five caravans were directed to Waterhall car park from Patcham Place, to enable them to access facilities.

“This is in line with government Covid-19 Gypsy and Travellers guidance.

“The group moved on to the adjacent field and were joined by others over the weekend.

“Due to the Government’s guidance on provision for travellers, we will not be taking enforcement action at this time.

“However, we will monitor the situation with the police and review further action if the encampment grows larger or if anti-social behaviour occurs or is reported.”

Brighton and Hove City Council previously said it would not be evicting travelling families from Patcham Place.

The statement was issued after Conservative councillor Lee Wards demanded they be moved immediately after concerns from residents nearby..

At the time, Cllr Wares said: “Regretfully, access on to the park was only possible because the council failed to replace missing bollards that were protecting the park from vehicle access.

“To help travelling families during the pandemic to access essential hygiene requirements such as water, sanitation and waste disposal facilities, government guidance suggests making alternative stopping places available such as transit sites, providing suitable local authority land or using holiday campsites which may have closed and have established facilities.

“In Brighton and Hove it has been decided by the council to close the multi-million-pound transit site we have and leave families in a popular park where none of the essential hygiene facilities are available.”