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An eviction has been successfully served to an illegal encampment on a public car park of a local housing office in Parkville Road, Swaythling, after those residing on the car park moved on today.

And now the council is working with Hampshire County Council to tackle an illegal encampment on land used by BTC Sports and Social Club, off Stoneham Lane.

Councillor Royston Smith, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, assured residents that the council would take all necessary action to remove the travellers from the areas. “These illegal encampments take local amenities away from our residents and we must not tolerate them.

“While I respect the right of anyone to live their lives how they choose - people must live and work within the law. These illegal encampments not only take car parking spaces and amenity land away from local taxpayers, they also come with a financial burden - with the local authority often having to clean the site afterwards.

“There are permanent traveller sites available across the south so I would urge all travellers and gypsies to make use of these.”