Travellers arrived on Dowds Farm park Sunday evening and have set up their caravans, tents, generaters etc. I have personally spoken to one very aggressive traveller who has informed me that they will stay as long as they like. This was communicated in front of police officers.

I am shocked at the treatment the residents of Hibberd Rise are receiving and the continued presence of the travellers. This is a quiet residential area where we have paid a premium on our properties in order to live somewhere nice.

In summary of the treatment and information we as residents have received:


In respect of the police, they have informed us that they are powerless to do anything and that it is Hedge End Town Council who will have to deal with the situation.
In respect of Hedge End Town Council, they have informed us that they do not own the land and that Bovis Homes will have to deal with the situation.
In respect of Bovis Homes, they have informed us that it is nothing to do with them and that Hedge End Town Council will have to deal with the situation.


This is obviously just going round in circles with no-one taking responsibility.


What is shocking is that they are driving trucks around the park at high speed where our children play. Do we have to wait for an accident before any action is taken? I can guarantee that if I drove my car around the park at high speed I would soon be arrested. So different rules seem to apply here for travellers and law abiding citizens.

I share equal upset I also live on this estate and they are destroying the park! I felt to intimidated to walk my dog in the park last night as one was wheel spinning his motorbike around the kids play area!! it is really upsetting as this is such a lovely area to live until this week I have felt so safe in this neighborhood. I have spoken to Hedge End council and Bovis. Hedge End council state that themselves and the police are doing all they can but bovis are being slow. I have spoken to Bovis who say this is not the case and I should ring back at 4.30 today for an update. All parties have told me not to tolerate abuse and to call the police immediately and also to report any destruction of the park. Fingers crossed they'l be gone asap and wont return

Whilst we do not live on the Dowds Farm Estate, we live quite close and share the concerns with the residents there and hope this will be resolved soon. I called Eastleigh Borough Council who confirmed what the above post says, although they weren't so specific; I would advise as many people phone Bovis as possible so that they sort something out asap. Finally - remember that Bovis still have a few houses to sell there, the last thing they want is the travellers' site to put the people off!

When they move them from there it will only be to somewhere else so they can inflict misery on other people. It is time the law was toughened up to deal with these people who are making residents life a misery, threatening your families life and your property, causing no end of a headache police and council and making landowners pay a FORTUNE to get their own land back. This is wrong but until it is changed at the top these people can have an easy life causing other people pain. As RDWL1 stated they want to be left alone - then behave like a human and live respectivly within the community. If the caravan is the way of life for you so be it but stop with the threats, language, intimidation, destruction of property, theiving........and on and on and on
Rant over - thank you

Copy of flyer sent out:

Travellers at Dowd's Farm Park,
Hedge End

Dear resident,

Eastleigh Borough Council, Hedge End Town Council and the local Police
are currently working closely with the owners of Dowd's Farm Park to
remove the travellers from the site.

Whilst the park is well managed on a day to day basis by Hedge End
Town Council, Dowd's Farm Park is owned by Bovis Homes Ltd. It is the
responsibility of the land owner to take the required court action to remove
trespassers. We have been in close contact with Bovis Homes Ltd and their
legal team are currently taking the necessary legal action to remove the
travellers. This may take several days.

Our Police colleagues in the Safer Neighbourhoods Team based at Hedge
End Police Station are undertaking regular patrols of the area and this will
continue until the travellers leave the site.

Eastleigh Borough Council is arranging for rubbish to be cleared whilst they
are on the site and Hedge End Town Council are arranging for the park to
be cleared of any rubbish as soon as the travellers vacate the area. They
will also be reviewing security on the park to prevent future access.
If you have any concerns about anti-social behaviour contact the Single
Non Emergency Number - 101
Please be assured that both Councils and the Police are fully aware
of residents concerns and frustrations and we are continuing to work
together to support local residents at this time and return Dowd's Farm
Park to the local community.

Jon Riddell, Local Area Co-ordinator
Hedge End, West End & Botley
H A M P S H I R E

Kevin Glyn-Davies, Town Clerk,
Hedge End Town Council

I walk my dog in Dowds Farm everyday and have had cars drive at me and then the driver and passengers waving as if there are doing nothing wrong!!

Well there definately has never been 5 caravans, there started off 8 caravans and 1 tent. Then last Wednesday there was 6 caravans and no less, not sure where Jonathan thought that there was 5!?!

The police are only driving past and not getting out of the car so not sure that good that is doing.

No rubbish has been removed from the site since they have been there but one good thing is that they have bagged it up and put by trees - that maybe is only 1 good thing!!

Also the play park people aren't using this as they have recently opened the new bit and this is going to be ruined before any of us can use it - also I was speaking to fellow dog walker who took her daugther in the park and they said that it was full of dog poo- anyone of us dog walkers know that the park is not for dogs!!!

Hurry up and go away so that we can enjoy our local park and nature reserve without any problems!!

Such good news, i hope it is true!

Lets hope they now put something in place to stop them spoiling it again in the future!

Glad to see the groundsman & his team were quick to clear up the mess. Dont forget they werent on council land as it is still owned by Bovis so up to them to secure sight. Hope the groundsmen havent got to waste valuable time doing pointless things like this again. They deserve a pay rise for what they have to do.

@ dockingbay94 If the groundsman and his staff want a pay rise maybe they should go on strike, that worked for Southampton city council workers, didn't it??

If police confiscate the travelers vehicles we would then be stuck with them in one place, so the plan seems to be ignore them breaking the law in the hope they will move on quickly and become some one else's problem.