Fed-up residents are calling for security to be bolstered around a popular play area after an unuauthorised traveller encampment pitched up on site.

Neighbouring residents living close to Beechings Way Playing Fields, in Twydall, Gillingham, believe padlocks were cut and new height restriction barriers damaged to gain entry.

The caravans arrived late last Monday night (May 29) and were served with an eviction order by Medway Council on Wednesday. However, they failed to move until Friday, when they set up camp at Hook Meadow, in King George Road, Chatham.

Pete Willer, who lives directly opposite the playing fields, in Twydall is among a group of residents urging the council to come up with a plan to secure the site.

“When the local councillors put the new height barrier in I knew it wouldn’t work,” he said. “I know what would work but no one in a position to do anything is interested.

“They literally lifted the black height barrier gate post that the councillors put in last year and pushed the whole lot back against the old white height barrier.

“They have also smashed the wooden fencing. Needless vandalism and illegal tresspassing and we’re meant to put up with it.”

He said residents should not have to put up with the nuisance the visitors cause every time they arrive.

“Their cars drive around the field with headlights on full beam until 2am,” he added. “There is excrement between the trees and by the play areas.

“I have had garden ornaments stolen in the past. I have been abused because I walked across the field to go to the shops.”

Mr Willer would like to see the metal barriers which have been erected around the field extended to cover the community centre, as that is only protected by wooden posts.

He said: “Logically the metal barriers, which do work well, would be extended around the outside of the wooden posts and fencing but the old Conservative council said it was too expensive.

“I don’t know what the new Labour council are thinking about this.”

Mr Willer added: “The contractors need access to the field for grass cutting so the field can’t be 100 per cent secure.

“There were two sets of barriers, one for the community hall car park and one from the car park onto the field, which were bypassed by smashing down the posts at the end of the car park.”

Kay Stringer, who also lives opposite and likes to take her three grandchildren to the park, agrees that more needs to be done to stop unauthorised encampments arriving.

“I have lived here eight years and they turn up at least two or three times every year,” she said.

“I have to endure the sight of kids defaecating against the railings and men urinating, music is constantly blaring out of their cars, their headlights are on main beam all night and they are tooting their horns until the early hours.

“My husband has to be up early to go to work to pay our taxes, so I get very annoyed when they turn up.”

With the group setting up camp during half term week, Mrs Stringer said children in the area have been left with no where to play.

“I normally look after my grandchildren a couple of times a week and we go to the playground and have our lunch on the grass,” she said. “We haven’t been able to this week. We had to drive somewhere else.”

She added: “There are not many green spaces left in Twydall where the kids can go to run around and play. Normally there would be loads of people with their kids and dogs over there, but there is no one there.

“Something needs to be done.”

Last year caravans pitched up in August, having previously been moved on in June. And in 2019 they turned up five times in one month.

In nearby Upnor, car boot businessman Mark Greenfield came up with an ingenious way to stop the caravans gaining access to his rented site.

He installed four anti-tank defences, locked the gates with two chains and hired a security guard.

And he has been forced to introduce the same measures this year, enlisting help once again from his friends in the army and paying two pals to act as guards at the site 24/7.

He said: “As soon as I heard they were in the area I put the measures back in place. They cause so much damage and aggravation and leave so much mess.”

Last year new legislation was brought in to tackle illegal pitches on other people’s land or in local communities.

Under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, police in England and Wales were given new powers to address harms caused by such unauthorised encampments and new guidance was published.

It comes amid a national shortage of gypsy and traveller sites with no plots currently available in Kent.

Police said the ongoing issues at Beechings Way were being dealt with by Medway Council.

The local authority confirmed that notice had been served and steps were being taken to move the group on as quickly as possible.

It was confirmed that preventative measures were in place, including a height barrier and barriers around the site, which were damaged to gain access.

The situation will be kept under review by the local authority to see if there are any other measures that can be put in place.

Meanwhile Medway Council has now served notice again after caravans arrived on Hook Meadow in Walderslade on Friday.

A spokesman said: “We are aware of the group and are following a civil legal process to move them on.”