Frensham’s Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebration will be going ahead today after a mammoth clean-up effort by villagers following a traveller encampment at Shortfield Common.

Villagers faced a race against time to clean-up the Common before Sunday’s Jubilee celebrations, after a traveller encampment vacated the protected green space on Saturday morning.

But after the community pitched in to help clear up the mess, a spokesman for Frensham Parish Council has confirmed the celebration event should go ahead as planned.

A total of eight traditional gypsy ‘vardo’ wagons, as well as one tent, one camper van, eight to ten horses, a couple of pony traps, and around 20 adults and children arrived at Shortfield Common in Frensham on Thursday evening.

A large number of caravans, both modern and traditional, arrived at Shortheath Common in Frensham on Thursday evening – just days before the village’s Queen’s Jubilee celebration
A large number of caravans, both modern and traditional, arrived at Shortfield Common in Frensham on Thursday evening – just days before the village’s Queen’s Jubilee celebration (Herald source)

This led to fears the encampment could spoil Frensham’s Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebration, set to take place on the common on Sunday, from midday to 6pm.

However, the Herald was informed at 12.30pm on Saturday that Shortfield Common had been vacated.

And villagers spent all day Saturday clearing “a lot of mess including human excrement” left on the site of the encampment, according to a local source, who asked not to be named.

Accusations of criminal activity and anti-social behaviour were reported to Surrey Police, and police officers had reportedly attended the scene “several times” since Thursday night.

There were claims that a horse had kicked a car, local woods were being used as a toilet, and parts of the common had been dug up for fire-making purposes.

Alleged damage to the SSSI – including the lighting of open fires on a site known to be vulnerable to wildfires in the summer – was also reported to the police.

Fires were lit at Shortfield Common, Frensham, a protected Site of Special Scientific Interest, by travellers encamped on the site
Fires were lit at Shortfield Common, Frensham, a protected Site of Special Scientific Interest, by travellers encamped on the site (Herald source)

The Herald asked Surrey Police for a statement on Friday evening, and is yet to receive a response.

Frensham’s borough councillor David Munro gave the following update on Saturday morning, prior to the travellers vacating the common: “I’m told they will be off today and I saw them packing up. I’ll go down later this morning and report further.

“The main worries I picked up amongst villagers was a fear that they wouldn’t be away by tomorrow, when we’re due to have a village Jubilee party on the same site, and annoyance about the possible mess they could leave behind. There will be a big clearing up operation this afternoon.

“All authorities including the parish council worked well to liaise with the occupiers to ensure that matters didn’t get out of hand.

A large number of caravans, both modern and traditional, arrived at Shortheath Common in Frensham on Thursday evening – just days before the village’s Queen’s Jubilee celebration
A large number of caravans, both modern and traditional, arrived at Shortfield Common in Frensham on Thursday evening – just days before the village’s Queen’s Jubilee celebration (Herald source)

“Interestingly, since April 28 when the Policing Bill that went through Parliament got Royal Assent, trespassing has been a criminal offence.

“Councillors will be asking Surrey Police to publish their protocols on how to deal with criminal trespass as soon as possible so that everyone knows what can be expected – and potential occupiers will hopefully be deterred.

“All’s well that end well, touch wood, but there has undoubtedly been some frustration and worse – and a lot of litter to clear up.”

The local feeling towards the travellers wasn’t universally negative, however, with Julie Macleod of Frensham British Legion reporting they were “nothing but polite and courteous”.

Ms Macleod said: “Frensham Royal British Legion Club held our jubilee party yesterday we had amazing day absolutely no problems from the traveller encampment they are polite and no problem at all.

“Even after arriving on Thursday night while the legion party was being set up they were nothing but polite and courteous.”

An discarded axe, used to shop up firewood in the woodland bordering Shortfield Common, Frensham, a protected Site of Special Scientific Interest, by travellers encamped on the site
An discarded axe, used to shop up firewood in the woodland bordering Shortfield Common, Frensham, a protected Site of Special Scientific Interest, by travellers encamped on the site (Herald source)

Shortfield Common is part of the part of the Thursley, Hankley and Frensham Commons Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and is also a designated Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI).

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are designated by Natural England, and give legal protection to the most important wildlife and geological sites in England under the Wildlife & Countryside Act. There are more than 60 SSSIs in Surrey.

Thursley, Hankley and Frensham Commons SSSI is of national importance for its invertebrates, birds and reptiles, including the nationally rare large marsh grasshopper. The site is one of the richest in southern England for birds and of outstanding importance for reptiles, such as the nationally rare sand lizard.

Shortfield Common is owned by the parish of Frensham, and the Herald understands Frensham Parish Council is being assisted by Waverley Borough Council’s legal teams in seeking to evict the encampment.