ALTONÕS Cardiac Rehabilitation Centre had a nasty attack of deja vu last Thursday when a group of travellers set up camp in the car park.
Last November saw the first occupation by travellers, with a huge amount of disruption caused in the area. No damage was caused to REHAB itself, but Gurdons residents and Alton Tennis Club reported damage, as well as complaining about the large amount of rubbish left behind.
Four caravans and associated vehicles arrived at the REHAB car park at about 7-30 pm on Thursday, and during a conversation with REHAB publicity manager Paddy Mendham, the group promised to leave on Sunday.
Mr Mendham said: ÒThe group had a spokesman who they all seemed to obey. When I went up to see them, they promised to leave on Sunday, and they told the police the same. Thankfully, they kept their promise and left at about 3-30 pm.
ÒThis group was far more compliant than the last group we had. They were fairly well spoken, very polite and very quiet. They did everything we asked them to. We asked them to move their vans on two occasions, which they did straight away, and we asked them to move some cables which they were using, and again, they complied straight away.
ÒThey said that they were in the process of looking for a permanent site for the summer and that they were just passing through.
ÒHowever nice the group was, it is still unacceptable to have it here. There are a lot of fragile people coming to REHAB, and the added stress of having these travellers on the site has not done the clients any good.
ÒThere has been a very mixed reaction from the clients; some feel vulnerable and threatened, some see it as a bit of a joke and some have actually gone out and remonstrated with the group which hasnÕt helped matters.
ÒAs a result of the last group, we have had consultation on how to avoid future occupations of this type. We are quite limited regarding the type of measures we can take because we need sufficient access for ambulances that are called here on a regular basis.
ÒWe have had a quote from a company for a lifting arm barrier for the car park entrance which will be locked at night. This, along with some sectional steel fencing, will cost REHAB around £5,000. We should be able to get some grant funding from the town and district councils.
ÒWhile we are prepared to take these measures, it is irritating that we should have to. The police are largely powerless to evict them, as are the town and district councils, and it seems that travellers have more rights than anyone else.Ó
While no damage was caused to REHAB itself, Alton Tennis Club again did not get off quite as lightly. Club secretary Pat Johnson said: ÒAs a result of the last lot, we put in concrete posts at the entrance to our car park to narrow the access, and it looks as though the travellers have knocked one of them down with a sledgehammer.
ÒAlso, the kids cut down one of our trees, and a huge amount of rubbish was left strewn all over the tennis court.
ÒThe worst thing though was that not only was our car park covered in dogÕs mess, there was also a large amount of human excrement found behind the clubhouse. It was absolutely disgusting.
ÒThe travellers go around knocking on doors asking people if they want their hedges cutting, and I would really like to urge local residents not to employ these people. They cut the hedges and bring the offcuts back to their camp to burn. This is why we have large scorch marks on our grass.
ÒAfter a few phonecalls, the town and district councils are clearing up the mess between them. It always seems to be us that suffers, and something has got to be done.Ó
It seems that the travellers have not left the Alton area however, as Sunday afternoon saw the group move into the car park at the old Laleham Healthcare packaging plant in the Mill Lane industrial estate.
Laleham managing director Vic Hilliard, said: ÒThe site no longer belongs to us, but we are working with the owner to get the situation resolved. We donÕt have to, but the agent is located in London and the site has been our responsibility for the last 20 years, and you donÕt just walk away after that amount of time.
ÒWe had steel fencing erected around the site which has been cut through. It was still intact when I went up there to check on Friday evening, but the travellers claim that it was like that on their arrival.
ÒWe have no indication of how long the travellers are intending to stay on the site, as we were advised by the police not to go up there and talk to them.
ÒWe have got the wheels in motion for eviction, but because of all the solicitors and other people involved, this is a lengthy process. We have applied for a squatters summons which will take around four days to come through. Then they will be given a certain amount of time to vacate the site, by which time they will have been there over a week and will have made one hell of a mess.
ÒWe went down exactly the same legal avenues as the last time we had travellers in March last year. It cost me around £2,000 to get it sorted back then, not to mention the cost of the clean-up operation, and it will probably cost just as much this time. The mess they left last year was absolutely disgusting.
ÒI donÕt know whether we will be reimbursed for these costs. I know that the agent is very grateful for all that we are doing and we will definitely ask, but we have no assurance that we will recoup our losses.Ó