Travellers set up camp on land near Ships and Castles, Falmouth

It is understood that the land belongs to Cornwall Council and is leased to Pendennis Castle.

It appears the travellers arrived yesterday and broke down the wooden posts to get in.

The area is known as the Hornworks which are a set of earthworks crossing the neck of the peninsular to the north-west of Pendennis Castle.

The travellers have set up camp at The Hornworks

Cllr Dave Saunby has been up to the site and reported the matter to the Cornwall councillor for the area Laurie Magowan.

"We had a problem last year with boy racers driving their cars around the field, which is also used by dog walkers," he said.

"I reported this to Cormac, to ask if it was possible to bring in some boulders and place them along the carpark and field boundary, which would solve the problem of cars getting in on the field.

"Sadly, my suggestion was not progressed any further, having met on site with a Cormac official, and now we have travellers on the site, who seemed to have broken down wooden fence posts to access the field.

"So here we have a situation of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted, just for the case of siting about ten boulders, along the boundary edge, when first reported last year, which would have denied access for all vehicles, trying to enter the field, and the situation which has now arisen.

Cornwall councillor for the area Laurie Magowan said the county council and the police had been up to the site on Monday to access the situation.

“Cornwall Council and local police went up to do a site visit as part of their process check health, welfare and educational needs," he said.

"Then due to review that and see what the next steps will be, whether to take no action, whether there was mutual agreement that the travellers would move on after a period of time or whether court action or something like that was needed.”

When the Packet visited the site on Monday there three caravan homes and vans as well as other structures and a Spaniel dog in a small kennel. There didn’t appear to be anyone about but rubbish had been dumped in plastic bags in a hedge. 

A Cornwall Council spokesman told the Packet: "The council is aware of the unauthorised encampment in Falmouth and is arranging to visit the site to assess the situation." 

An English Heritage spokesperson said: "The ‘Hornworks’ to the north of Pendennis Castle is owned by Cornwall Council, and leased by English Heritage from time to time for use for larger events. 
"We work closely with both the council and Devon and Cornwall Police, and they are aware of the current situation. Access to the car park is unaffected and Pendennis Castle remains open to visitors."

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