Costs incurred as Travellers ‘forced entry’ to Abingdon park

A group of Travellers including multiple caravans, cars, loose and enclosed animals including horses, geese and dogs, plus work vehicles and industrial machinery, arrived to Albert Park in Abingdon late on Saturday evening, August 15.

The private park belongs to long-standing charity Christ’s Hospital Abingdon, which maintains the park as a community asset and has provided Almshouses, education and historical stewardship to the town since 1553.

A statement from the charity released on Tuesday, August 18, said: “A group of Travellers forced entry and occupied Albert Park over the weekend.

Multiple caravans and cars as well as work vehicles and industrial machinery are parked on the grass (Image: Contributed)

“Since becoming aware of the situation, Christ’s Hospital has been working closely with relevant agencies, including Thames Valley Police, to assess the circumstances and determine the most appropriate course of action.

“The safety of park users, neighbouring residents, and our beneficiaries remains our priority.

“We recognise that this situation has caused concern and inconvenience for people who regularly visit and enjoy Albert Park, and we are committed to restoring the park to normal use and enjoyment as swiftly as possible.

“We will be employing contractors to do this on our behalf and ask the public to leave this to the specialist teams.

“As a charity, incidents of this nature can have significant financial implications.

The park is owned by the charity Christs Hospital Abingdon who are aware of the encampment (Image: Contributed)

“The costs of legal advice, specialist enforcement services, security patrols, clean-up operations, and any repairs required as a result of the occupation will ultimately be met from charitable funds.

“These are funds that would otherwise be available to maintain community facilities, support beneficiaries, and further Christ’s Hospital’s charitable objectives.”

An encampment has set up in Albert Park (Image: Contributed)

The charity thanked people in Abingdon for their ‘strong local support’ and encouraged people to support the organisation so that ‘resources can be directed towards enhancing local facilities and supporting those in need, rather than dealing with unexpected incidents of this nature’.

Animals, including horses, geese and dogs, have been seen roaming the park (Image: Contributed)

County Councillor Tom Greenaway shared information after the group arrived on Saturday, and said: “Disappointingly, while speaking with residents, several of us were sworn at by someone driving a car across the park, so please be aware of vehicles and loose animals in the immediate area where you may not usually expect them.”

Another report said the bar on the Victorian-era gate of the park appears to have been bent out of shape in order to open it and gain access.

A bar on the Victorian gate to the park has been bent out of shape (Image: Contributed)

Officers from Thames Valley Police reportedly attended the site to engage with the group and investigate ‘reports of crime’.

A spokesperson for the force earlier said: “We have been made aware of an unauthorised encampment at Albert Park, Abingdon. 

“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and are in contact with the landowner.

“We will work in partnership with the relevant agencies to assess any impact on the local community.”