A play area in a park which has been regularly taken over by travellers is set for a £75k make-over.

The Beechings Way play area in Gillingham will undergo a transformation with money from Medway Council’s budget.

The work, which is expected to start this autumn, will cost just over £75,000 and will see the old equipment replaced with more modern swings, slides and climbing frames.

The site – which is a regular draw for travellers, particularly in the summer months – will continue to be reviewed by the local authority to see if there are any other measures which can be put in place to secure it against illegal encampments.

In August, more than 30 travellers pitched up on the playing fields next to the children’s play area, while in March they camped up near the community centre and again in June.

In 2019, they turned up on the field five times in a month.

This summer, residents called for an increase in security at the park to stop the encampments.

Speaking at the time, Pete Willer, who lives nearby, said he would like to see the metal barriers which have been erected around the field extended to cover the community centre, as that is only protected by wooden posts.

He said: “Logically the metal barriers, which do work well, would be extended around the outside of the wooden posts and fencing but the old Conservative council said it was too expensive.”

Suitable traveller provision is part of the council’s Local Plan, which is currently open to consultation until Tuesday, October 31.