ALL-PARTY support has been given by Christchurch councillors for a call to the government for a change in the law to prevent a repeat of the town's "summer of hell" invasion by travellers.

Members voted unanimously last night (September 14) to back council leader Cllr Alan Griffith's motion demanding tougher legislation to prevent illegal camps and speed up evictions when they occur.

The motion was supported by a 2,250-name petition presented to the council at the start of the debate by residents living around the 2Riversmeet sports arena, where up to 100 travellers were camped for six weeks during the summer.

And after hearing from Chief Insp Nick Maton, who masterminded the eventual eviction of the travellers, the council extended the motion to support the national Association of Chief Police Officers' call for radical reform of the rules.

Cllr Griffiths said: "We have had a summer of hell. The feeling of the town as a whole is that we have had enough. Christchurch is not a soft touch for people to come and occupy our land illegally.

"The residents of Monkswell Green in particular have had a very poor summer. They have had to put up with the sort of behaviour that no one should have to put up with.

"The law is an ass and it is time the law was changed."

His remarks were followed by a succession of councillors voicing their support and adding their own stories to the catalogue of mess, crime, abuse and intimidation caused by the travellers.

"These people know their rights but don't accept their responsibilities," said Cllr Josephine Spencer.

"They come to despoil and abuse our facilities, obtain access illegally and then leave us enormous bills for cleaning up their mess.

"Our residents are extremely distressed at what has happened to our lovely town."

Cllr David Jones warned: "Nobody can support vigilante action but it is going to happen unless these people are dealt with properly."

First published: September 15