71183-17TRAVELLERS say they have been forced to move on to private land at Blundson because they have nowhere else to go.

The group has been moved off several sites by the police in the last week.

Now the convoy of about 25 caravans and trucks has moved into a field off the A419 at the Lady Lane junction.

Since they first appeared in the Swindon area last Monday, the group has grown to about 70 people.

They are waiting for other travellers to join them before heading to the Royal Welsh Show, in Builth Wells, on July 21.

But, for Blunsdon residents, the temporary camp has brought back memories of four years ago.

Then they were horrified when travellers left the field strewn with rubbish, including human excrement, clothes and empty gas canisters and cut down trees for firewood.

Swindon Council, which owns the land, was left with the bill for clearing up.

Stuart Boyd, the chairman of Blunsdon Parish Council, said: "There are concerns about litter and public health hazards.

"The trouble is that there are steps the borough can take to move them on but there are procedures to go through and it takes time.

"Pieces of ground like this should be made more secure and anyone cutting chains or breaching security measures should be prosecuted."

The travellers say they will remain at the camp for two days.

They have promised to take their rubbish away with them.

The field was tidy when the Advertiser visited the site.

Sarah Lee, 25, who had just arrived from Dover, said: "We haven't got the right to be here, we just gatecrashed, but we will only be here for a couple of days.

"We will clear up before we leave."

Mother-of-eight Mary Lee, 38, who said she was a Romany gypsy, said: "We're keeping it as clean as possible. The trouble is that there are no proper sites around here, so we are forced to go on to private land.

"Once we settle somewhere, the police move us off."

She said most travellers earned a living by carrying out handiwork, like cutting down trees.

The group moved on to the site on Sunday after being moved off a nearby field.

A week ago they tried to camp on the opposite side of the A419 near the covered reservoir but were told to leave by Thames Water.

They then camped on scrubland off Thames Avenue, near Asda Wal-Mart, but were again moved on.

Swindon Council spokeswoman Caroline Pike said: "Our traveller liaison officer is aware of the situation and has attended the site.

"Further visits will be made in due course, if and when necessary.

"This particular group of travellers are seasonal visitors and are aware of the provision that has been made for gypsies and travellers within the borough.

"Swindon Council is aware of the needs of travellers and provides the Chiseldon Firs site for smaller travelling groups.

"We cannot comment any further on whether or not the travellers will be asked to move on until a full review of the situation has been carried out."

Tamash Lal