TWO groups of travellers have moved onto sites in Weymouth.

Authorities are monitoring the groups, one which arrived at Lodmoor Country Park on Wednesday and were expected to have gone by today, and another which set up behind the park and ride facility at Mount Pleasant yesterday.

A group moved onto Lodmoor, at the picnic site near the pitch and putt.

Speaking to the Echo yesterday, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s spokesman for transport and infrastructure, Cllr Colin Huckle said: “We are aware of a number of travellers currently located at Lodmoor car park and have informed the police and the county council’s Gypsy Traveller Liaison Service.

“We have also made the Friends of Lodmoor Country Park aware of the situation. 

“We have spoken with the group and advised them that they need to leave the car park. They have informed us they will be leaving today – Friday.”

Cllr Huckle added: “We will of course be issuing penalty charge notices for any parking contraventions that occur.”

A spokesman for Dorset Police said they had been made aware of the travellers.

He added that they were informed on Wednesday at 2.48pm by the local authority.

Dorset County Council Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Officer Paula Clover said: “I visited Thursday and the site is tidy.

“Apart from the fact that they are there, the travellers are not causing any other problems. They have told me they will be gone in a few days. The police have also visited the site and they are monitoring the situation."

She added: “Both encampments are being monitored and currently being tolerated for a short time.”

The travellers behind the park and ride are at the same site where a group set up last month for a week or so before moving on.

There were concerns about the amount of rubbish left at the site after they left. One resident said more needed to be done to minimise the impact on the area.

See our story here.

In 2014, the county council’s planning committee gave permission for an area of Piddlehinton to be used as a temporary transit site for travellers.

The decision was made with the view that it would give authorities more powers when dealing with travelling groups.

Paula Clover added: “We do still have the transit site at Piddlehinton which can be used if necessary.”

There were concerns about the amount of rubbish left at the site after they left. One resident said more needed to be done to minimise the impact on the area.

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Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers are legally recognised as ethnic groups, and protected by the Race Relations Act.

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