Travellers set up camp in station car park

COMMUTERS are unable to leave their cars at a Kent railway station because travellers are camping in the car park.

City workers - who pay 40 a month on top of their season tickets for parking - have to rely on lifts to the station because there is no space for them to park between the 30 caravans and children playing in the area.

About 100 travellers have been staying in Rainham station car park since the weekend but now train operator Connex South Eastern is taking legal action to have them evicted from the site.

Commuter Sandra Thompsett, 32, said: "I think it's disgusting. After all I pay 40 a month for my parking space and I cannot park there.

"My husband has to drop me off at the station and pick me up at the end of the day."

Another commuter, Peter Lane, 41, said: "I think the travellers should find a field or somewhere better than this. I don't like seeing kids this close to cars which can drive through and knock them down."

Traveller Michael Maloney, 23, said: "If we were provided with a site allocated for travellers we would go there. But we're not, so we have to go somewhere."

Connex South Eastern's media relations manager Dave Ewart said: "We are acting in the best interests of our customers by pushing for an eviction notice.

"Customers can use a neighbouring council car park where they will be charged the same daily rate. Season parking ticket-holders will be given free parking for a week as compensation."

Local authority Medway council says a bid for a permanent travellers' site is on hold until the Government sets up a proposed framework of national sites.

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