[UPDATE] A spokesperson for Herefordshire Council has confirmed to the Ross Gazette that a team of officers has been out to visit the Travellers this morning and a notice to leave has been issued; the group must leave the site by Friday, July 1st at 4pm. A large group from the Travelling community returned to Red Meadow car park in Ross, on Tuesday night. On local social media groups, such as the Ross-on-Wye Notice Board on Facebook, this has caused quite a stir; while many residents are frustrated at the group’s presence, others have said that it is unfair to assume that all Travellers will cause problems.

Some local businesses have had problems with groups of Travellers in the past; one local woman who works for the town, who did not wish to be named, said that during a group’s recent visit, a Traveller defecated in her bin, and she said that this is not an isolated incident. She claimed that when Travellers have previously entered the business where she works, property has been broken, windows smashed, and she has even found urine on the floor. During another occasion, a group of Travellers, entered a playing field at Ross Sports Centre, and, as a result, a tournament had to be cancelled. Those at the Sports Centre were faced with a large bill. They had to pay for Herefordshire Council to issue an enforcement notice, which cost £300. This notice was issued, and Herefordshire Council told the Gazette that the Travellers were "amenable." However, they did not leave, and the Sport Centre were then faced with the expense of engaging a firm of private bailiffs to remove the Travellers, which cost £450. The Travellers then left the site. Dawleys, a business based at the Industrial Estate in Ross offered to pay the bailiffs’ costs. This gesture was greatly appreciated by the Sports Club. Previous behaviour, such as this, has left many local residents angry. However, some local people have said that not every member of the Travelling community acts in this way, that there are good and bad people in all walks of life, and it is unfair to assume that all Travellers will operate in this way. The Ross Gazette asked Halo, who operate Ross Swimming Pool and Gym, whether they have had any trouble from the Travellers. They said that as the Travellers have taken up so much space in the car park, there is not much room for their customers to park their vehicles, which has left many of them very frustrated. They added that while they said the group seemed polite enough, they use the facilities, such as the pool and the toilets, particularly when the public toilets are closed. They said they tend to leave a lot of mess.They are very much in favour of the installation of a barrier at the entrance to the Red Meadow car park. The Red Meadow car park is owned by Herefordshire Council, who do not have any money to put in a barrier. However, Ross-on-Wye Town Council, are looking into the possibility of paying for a barrier themselves.Local people have become increasingly frustrated with the distribution of parking fines in the town today (Wednesday, June 29th). One local woman commented on the Ross Gazette's Facebook page: "I was a few minutes late for my car and still got a ticket after I said I was leaving. No leeway. I'm shocked."Inspector Bob Barnett told the Ross Gazette that the police can only move Travellers along if there is a static site within the County boundary to move them to, however Herefordshire does not have one, therefore the responsibility lies with County Council to start the process of ensuring that they leave. The police are monitoring the situation and visiting local businesses to reassure them that they are being proactive.