Fencing has been ripped down at the Sainsbury’s end of Jackey Bakers’ playing fields in Ramsgate with another Travellers’ group setting up on the site.
It is the fifth incursion at Jackey Bakers and the 34th on the isle this year. The last group at the fields, consisting of around 16 caravans, moved on to the site on July 5.
It was the last straw for those whose homes back on to the field with residents saying rubbish and human waste was being left in the wooded area and on the playing fields as well as fences being damaged to gain entry.
Residents raised a petition asking for a barrier/bund or secure fencing for the entire perimeter. Thanet council confirmed it would start work on securing the site this month with a new fence, gates, bollards and CCTV.
Thanet council chief executive Madeline Homer wrote to residents to say: “We have agreed solutions to make unauthorised access to the land at Jackey Bakers more difficult, which include a new 2 meter fence along the boundary with Sainsbury, bollards to restrict vehicular access to the public right of way, new gates to the entrance of Jackie Bakers and CCTV cameras at the entrance and on the boundary with Sainsbury. We expect work to commence the first week of August.”
But the latest Traveller group has accessed the site before work has been started. Police were at the scene earlier today and Thanet council has been notified.
Travellers are also currently sited at the Westcliff and on land near to the Manston airport site.
In 2013 Thanet council dealt with two incursions. Last year there were around 40 and so far this year there have been some 34.
