Time for action
I fully support the comments made by Dr James Walsh (Gazette, August 1), that the travellers know precisely what they can get away with and have no respect for authority, people or property.
The Sportsfield is extremely vulnerable to this sort of unauthorised occupation, with two vehicular gates, and has already been the victim of padlocks being broken by the ‘advance party’, before the attempted occupation by the remainder of the travellers.
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Hide AdFortunately, the damage to the padlocks was witnessed and new locks were fitted before the invasion, although several suspicious vehicles slowed down when passing, to check the gates.
Locks and chains provide little resistance to the travellers, who see security as a challenge to overcome. It is costing a lot of time and man hours to keep the Sportsfield secure with chains, padlocks and the blocking of accesses.
It is, however, about time that the Government introduced legislation that would make the unauthorised occupation of land and property a criminal offence, where police can take action to enforce eviction, without the need for costly legal action to obtain court orders and eviction notices.
Hopefully, the three local authorities and the local MPs will pressure the Government to take action that is long overdue.
Hugh Milner, manager, Littlehampton Sportsfield
St Flora’s Road
Littlehampton