The stately seafront spoiled by travellers
‘Opened the floodgates’
it would be a marvellous shot of one of Hove’s handsome Regency squares – if it weren’t for the string of caravans blighting the view.
travellers have set up camp along the upmarket town’s picturesque promenade with more than 50 vehicles after arriving on Saturday.
this aerial photograph shows caravans, cars, campervans and vans lined up on Hove Lawns, which usually has impressive views towards the Channel.
instead the area, which is popular with sunbathers, has become strewn with plastic waste and rubbish since the travellers’ arrival.
According to locals, the vehicles appeared on the spot within hours and were still there last night.
the area is subject to a Public Spaces Protection Order which is supposed to prevent any encampment for longer than 12 hours. But Sussex Police said they would not take any action unless directed to by the landowner.
A witness said: ‘i saw them arriving at 1pm – there were loads of them. there were tents there before, but this escalated quickly. they weren’t there when i woke up this morning
‘there must have been 50 or 60 vans – it was ridiculous.’ Photos showed rubbish strewn across the grass including several bicycles.
it comes in the wake of tents set up by homeless people who said they would leave when they were given accommodation.
Dawn Barnett, a Conservative councillor at Brighton and Hove City Council, said: ‘the council should have removed the tents. it has opened the floodgates to everybody else. it is a public space. if i were to park my car anywhere else, i guarantee it would be moved within 12 hours.’
Hove’s Regency squares are a prized property location in the seaside town. they were built as nearby Brighton grew due to the royal patronage of the Prince Regent, later George iV, in the early 1800s. Along with its squares and terraces, the Regency period led to other grand formal projects such as the Royal Pavilion.
Meanwhile, travellers have also camped close to a beach where filming is due to start today for a period drama starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy.
About 15 caravans, several vans and two trucks have arrived in Walmer, near Deal, Kent.
A source involved in filming the drama – a biopic of the Victorian artist Louis Wain, famous for his cat drawings – said: ‘the location manager knows about it and is livid. Where the travellers are situated will be a backdrop in some scenes. it could throw everything into chaos.’ A spokesman for Dover District Council, which is reponsible for the site, said: ‘We are following due legal process and have served notice on travellers at Walmer Green to vacate the site.’
No one from Brighton and Hove City Council was available to make a comment last night.