TRAVELLERS who have occupied parts of Newton Abbot eight times already this year will soon find their way on to local parks blocked.

But angry residents living near the town’s Osborne Park have urged Teignbridge Council to speed up the process after suffering ‘misery’ at the hands of some of the travellers.

And councillors have called for better liaison with local police to tackle the problems.

Cllr Jane Taylor (Ind, Kerswell with Coombe) said after the meeting: ‘The police say they have no resources, but that’s not good enough.

‘We need to put some pressure on the police on behalf of the residents of Osborne Park and other places.’

Police were called over allegations of criminal damage around the encampment.

There were also reports of cars being scratched, doors being kicked and loud music being played at night.

There were a number of confrontations with local residents.

Cllr Colin Parker (Lib Dem, Buckland and Milber) said the encampments caused ‘disruption, distress and anger’, and there had been four separate groups moving on to Osborne Park in recent weeks.

Travellers had chosen the park because it was easy to access, he said, and he called on the council to collaborate with neighbouring authorities to find a transit site for travelling groups away from town centres.

‘These measures are of the utmost importance,’ he said. ‘They should proceed at the earliest possible time to give the residents their feeling of wellbeing back.

‘Let’s make it happen.’

The issue was discussed at an emergency meeting of the executive committee, brought forward from its intended date in September.

The committee had been due to meet on July 8, but that meeting was cancelled.

‘We have listened to the residents and we are acting,’ said council leader Richard Keeling (Lib Dem, Chudleigh). ‘We understand the distress people have endured.’

And Cllr Jackie Hook (Lib Dem, Bushell) said this year’s problems in Osborne Park had been ‘unprecedented’.

Members voted unanimously to back measures costing £73,200, which will come from the Section 106 payments made to the council by developers.

The new strategy will include physical barriers such as bollards, gates, earth banks and trees at vulnerable parks such as Osborne Park, Courtenay Park and Sandringham Park.

Osborne Park needs ‘tailored’ measures due to tree roots, underground services and existing park use.

Other parks to be protected by the ‘target hardening’ approach include Bakers Park, Dawlish Countryside Park and Forde Park.

A report to the meeting said a lack of formal transit sites in and around Teignbridge contributed to recurring problems with unauthorised encampments.

Cllr Keeling said the search for a suitable transit site would continue, with the likely location somewhere off the A38.