ADDITIONAL security measures are being investigated for a sports field in Colchester after travellers pitched up on the site for the second time in the space of just six weeks.

A small group of about four caravans arrived at Colchester Rugby Club, in Mill Road, some time on Friday.

It comes after a larger group of caravans also pitched up on the rugby club towards the end of April before moving on to several different sites in the nearby High Woods Country Park.

The rugby club site is set to be redeveloped into hundreds of new homes, as well as medical facilities and a care home, as part of the Northern Gateway development.

The club’s field is popular with sports fans and dog walkers in the area who enjoy using its extensive fields.

Colchester councillor Martin Goss said residents had reported several concerns to him over the weekend.

He said: “I’ve sent any evidence I have across submitted by the public to council officers.

“The legal process for court order removal is seven to ten days unless the police use emergency Section 61 powers.

“They can only use those powers if the public have made lots of calls providing relevant evidence.”

It is believed the travellers gained access through some fencing which had been set up as part of the building works on the site.

Read more:

A Colchester Council spokesperson said Essex Police and the Essex Countywide Traveller Unit had both visited the site since the travellers arrived.

The travellers told the authorities they planned to leave the rugby club by 1pm on Monday.

The Essex Countywide Traveller Unit was preparing direction to leave notices in case the group failed to leave, however, they had vacated by mid-afternoon yesterday.

A spokesman for Colchester Council said: “The travellers have now left the site.

“Fencing has been re-erected and we are looking at ways to improve site security.”