AT least 20 travellers' caravans that had pitched up on a private car park in Winchester are now gone.

The caravans and work vans had been parked on the Hampshire County Council staff car park next to the Household Recycling Centre in Bar End.

Hampshire Chronicle:

READ MORE: Caravans pitch up on Hampshire County Council car park in Winchester

Several work vans were seen coming and going from the site, beeping horns and playing loud music. 

Hampshire Chronicle:

This morning (April 19), all of the vehicles are gone, with photos showing that litter has been left behind with damage caused to barriers and cabins.

Hampshire Constabulary acting chief inspector John Stribley said: “Hampshire Constabulary will always ensure that we balance the needs and rights of all our communities with actions that are proportionate, lawful and necessary.

“We work closely with landowners and our partners to ensure that a robust approach is taken against unauthorised encampments within legal parameters.

“Our partnership work also seeks to identify repeat locations where there has been criminality or disorder in order to target harden these sites.”

A Hampshire County Council spokesman said: “We confirm that since last Wednesday (April 12), travellers have been camped without prior permission on County Council land adjacent to the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) in Winchester. Following failure to comply with a notice to vacate the land, the County Council sought a court hearing to progress an eviction order. Overnight, the police served a Section 61 order to the group and the site is now in the process of being vacated.

“The HWRC will be closed today (Wednesday) for cleaning and will reopen tomorrow (Thursday). Local residents are advised to use an alternative site today – including Eastleigh, Casbrook (Romsey) or Basingstoke. Bookings can be made online, in the usual way on hants.gov.uk.”