Travellers descend on Hampshire village for week-long festival

EXCLUSIVE: Travellers descend on Hampshire village for week-long Christian festival with huge marquee and hundreds of caravans pitching up in a field as council say they were not told of their arrival

• The enormous group suddenly appeared on Sunday night on farmer’s field
• He gave permission, but locals fear he was duped over the size of the event 

Up to 500 travellers and trailers have descended on a quiet Hampshire village for a Romany festival – amid claims the landowner was duped about the event’s size.

Today a massive blue and white marquee could be seen set up alongside the hundreds of caravans in the usually quiet hamlet of Curdridge, Hants.

Their arrival was unexpected among the local community and councillors, who only learned about it on social media.

The owner of the land where the Romany Church festival is taking place, farmer Bob Woodley, is understood to have given them permission to be there.

But he refused to comment to MailOnline when approached for comment over rumours swirling through the 1,398 population village that he had not realised how big it would be.

Phillip Poole, 55, who has been a farmer in the area for over 20 years and owns land opposite, said he believed he may have been ‘duped’ as to the true nature of the event.

Hundreds of caravans could be seen in the usually quiet hamlet of Curdridge, Hants. today

The arrival was unexpected among the local community and councillors, who only learned about it on social media

It is understood that a Romany Church festival is taking place and will continue all of this week

He told MailOnline: ‘They came across as a festival singing group, I think. I’ve reason to believe they’re having a wedding.

‘He’s been duped because it was just a ruse to get in there. He’s probably taken the money and now he can’t get rid of them until they’ve finished.

‘There’s about 400 or 500 trailers scattered about all over the place – local farmers are on their guard and locked all their outbuildings.’

On the problems of travellers pitching up, Mr Poole said: ‘It’s just the mess they create, that’s the worst thing.

‘But once you’ve taken money off someone it’s difficult to get them off because it’s effectively a tenancy.’

He continued: ‘I would think Mr Woodley is probably not so popular in the village. I think he’ll be off a few people’s Christmas card list.’

Farmer Bob Woodley is understood to have given them permission to be there on his land

The mass arrival had caused a stir in village WhatsApp groups who had no idea they were coming

A massive blue and white marquee formed the centrepiece of the event in Curdridge, Hants

Local resident David Dabbs, a lawyer, said he had heard the whole of the first night of celebrations due to a large PA system the travellers were using late into the night.

But he admitted: ‘It sounded like they had a good Blues singer.

‘It was better than some of the stuff they have outside across the road at the pub.

‘They were no louder than the live band they have playing at the local once a month. Words were spoken, occasionally a not bad church singer came on, but there was a point where you think ‘shut up’.’

Mr Dabbs revealed the travellers’ arrival had caused lively reaction in residents’ WhatsApp group chats, adding: ‘There was a certain amount of community flurry when they arrived.

‘The first few arrived Sunday afternoon, but the main body came on Monday morning.’

Large cars, caravans and trailers were massed in the field for the festival happening this week

The parish council said it expects the gathering to finish by Friday, when most ‘participants’ are expected to leave

Winchester City Council legal team confirmed that an events licence should have been applied for

Winchester City councillors, alongside Curdridge Parish Council, today sent out a letter to villagers informing them that ‘over 200’ caravans had convened but they had been ‘unaware’ of the activity until it started being reported on social media.

Following an ‘informal emergency meeting’ on Monday evening, the letter states: ‘The event has been organised by the ‘Light and Life Missionary Church’, with the landowner’s permission.

‘We understand this to be an annual event held at various sites around the UK and usually lasts around one week.’

The parish council expects the gathering to finish by Friday, when most ‘participants’ are expected to leave, but may may see a ‘a small group remain during Saturday to help manage the cleaning of the site’.

The letter continued: ‘Winchester City Council legal team have been engaging with City councillors and confirmed that an events licence should have been applied for, as well as other associated health and safety/highways permissions being needed.

A Winchester City Council representative said the church leader had told them there would be two religious services held each day in the encampment

There was warning other potential traveller camps nearby ‘travelling in the shadow’ of the religious event and that they could seek to ‘capitalise on it for personal gain’

Travellers have set up a marque on a farmer’s field in Curdridge, Hampshire, over the weekend

Piles of rubbish could be seen on the site already, but visitors have promised to remove it

‘These applications have not been made and therefore, Winchester City Council are following a formal process with the landowner on this matter.

‘Council representatives had a cordial meeting with the event organiser and asked that he pass on to the gathered community, our request that the village and its residents are treated with respect and privacy.

‘We agreed in return that we would ask residents to show the same behaviours towards this temporary gathering and the landowner.’

A Winchester City Council representative said the church leader had told them there would be two religious services held each day in the encampment.

The letter also warned of other potential traveller camps nearby ‘travelling in the shadow’ of the religious event and that they could seek to ‘capitalise on it for personal gain’.

The letter continued: ‘With this in mind, we ask all residents to be mindful of this increased risk and remain vigilant.

‘Please ensure property, including outbuildings are locked and extra precautions are taken with valuables.

‘The Parish and Winchester City Councillors will closely monitor the event and work on behalf of Parish residents, to minimise where possible, the impact this gathering is having on the village community.’

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