PETERSFIELD TOWN Council and East Hampshire District Council are both taking court action this week to remove travellers from two areas of the town.

More than 20 caravans remain parked on the town council-owned Heath site, where dog walkers and local residents have complained about the piles of rubbish and human excrement left by travellers.

This week several travellers have moved onto East Hampshire District Council-owned land behind Petersfield Rugby Club.

Patricia Hughes, East Hampshire District CouncilÕs traveller liaison officer told The Herald all the travellers camped close to the townÕs rugby club had been served with notices.

ÒThe council hopes to have removed all travellers from this piece of land within five working days,Ó she said.

Sue McMorran, deputy town clerk for Petersfield Town Council, said travellers on the Heath had also been served with notices to quit. Councillors were now waiting for the bailiffs to serve eviction orders.

ÒOnce the travellers have the orders, they have 24 hours to get off the land,Ó she said.

Mrs McMorran said that specialist teams were waiting to get onto The Heath to clear up the rubbish and excrement left by the travellers.

Patrician Hughes said that East Hampshire District Council was this week drawing up a special code of conduct which would be handed out to every traveller.

ÒThe councilÕs policy on travellers is one of toleration,Ó she told The Herald, Òand the travellers will be told that where they act reasonably and stick to standards set up, the council may decide to tolerate them, but if they break the code, the council will take action to remove them quickly.Ó

Paul Martin, chairman of Petersfield Rugby Club, told The Herald there had been considerable damage caused to rugby pitches at Penns Place.

ÒThe first group of travellers arrived in wet weather and there was a great deal of damage caused by their vehicles. It was particularly galling because the damage was to areas that we had re-seeded and fertilised in preparation for next season. Given that the work itself cost in the region of £2,000 we are not very happy,Ó he said.

He said the latest travellers had camped close to the practice pitch and he was not sure whether it would be possible for players to train.

Town councillor Brian Dutton was furious about the mess created by travellers on the Heath.

ÒThere are piles of concrete, rubbish and tree cuttings and in the trees alongside the campsite they are using numerous areas for their lavatories and have not had the sense to dig pits to defecate into. The toilet paper is being blown over the Heath,Ó he said.

ÒIt is a total disgrace that people who allow their dogs to foul the Heath can be fined and yet these people will, no doubt, get away with this awful behaviour.Ó