Travellers criticise soil to stop them in Ringwood

Traveller advocate Betty Smith-Billington says using mounds of soil to keep the travelling community from entering private land in Ringwood and Poole is a waste of money.

As reported, Ringwood Town Council recently allowed soil mounds to be used to stop unauthorised encampments being set up at Poulner Lakes after years of trouble.

This follows a similar move by BCP Council which placed large soil banks at the entrance of Creekmoor park and ride in Poole to prevent similar instances.

Travellers at Poulner Lakes in Ringwood back in 2015 (Image: Newsquest)

Ms Smith-Billington, chair of Dorset traveller advocacy group Kushti-Bok, has denounced such decisions as “waste and stupidity”.

She previously spoke out after BCP Council confirmed earlier this year it had no plans to introduce transit site facilities in the region.

Ms Smith-Billington told the Echo: “Rather than spend money making a beauty spot look like a slag heap in a Welsh mining town, the money would be better spent on providing a transit site.

“Creekmoor is a clear example of waste and stupidity. The park and ride could be used to solve an age-old problem.

“It looks unsightly, more than any caravans I have seen on there. It’s disgusting to deny people an overnight stay.

Chair of Kushti Bok, Betty Smith-Billington

“Kushti Bok will be working hard these next two years with BCP Council to provide at least one transit site and hopefully some tolerated or negotiated stopping places.”

In response to concerns the soil could harm the visual amenity of Poulner Lakes, town clerk for Ringwood Town Council, Chris Wilkins, said: “As you may be aware, members of the traveller community gained unauthorised access to this site with vehicles in 2020.

“Damage was caused to the tree planting and it took some time – and the intervention of the police and district council officers – to secure their removal.

“This incident prompted expressions of concern from members of the public and it therefore seems entirely right and fitting that our councillors should require that reasonable and proportionate measures be taken to prevent a recurrence.

“I met our grounds manager on site last week to discuss options for securing the site. We are still working on the details but I can assure you that we are conscious of the need to preserve the amenities of the site by avoiding unsightly or unnecessary additions.”