A HEIGHT-restriction barrier has been installed at a city car park after almost 50 travellers’ vehicles pitched up there illegally in November.

But some onlookers were quick to point out a gap of approximately three metres next to the £1,700 barrier – easily wide enough for a car and a caravan to fit through.

Salisbury city councillor Sven Hocking, in whose ward the Churchill Gardens car park lies, said time would tell if the barrier would work, but stressed the importance of erecting a sign that offered directions to the nearest temporary traveller site.

He said: “If the traveller community came here now, then it would be different, but they seem to be a law unto themselves. The cost of cleaning up the mess is huge, so we hope the installation of a barrier will act as a deterrent next time around.”

Salisbury’s police chief, Inspector Pete Sparrow, called for a new transit area for travellers at a city council meeting in November, to make it clear to the travellers where they could pitch camp.

He stood by his earlier statement and supported the installation of the barrier.

Inspector Sparrow said: “The need for a temporary travellers site is there, and the signs would be a good idea, but it is the council’s obligation.

“I haven’t seen the actual barriers, but a measure to stop a recurrence of what happened previously is fine by me.”

After the incursion in November, Salisbury City Council issued an eviction notice.

While the group initially refused to comply, they compromised and left 72 hours later.