COUNCIL chiefs are unlikely to step up security on land used by travellers who terrorised a community.

Eight caravans arrived at the Leeming Bar industrial estate over the May Bank Holiday weekend and travellers caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to local businesses and attacked pub customers. There were also reports of gunshots being heard.

Businesses in the area condemned the actions of the travellers - who had been evicted from Knaresborough by Harrogate Borough Council - saying they had suffered a loss in trade.

But Hambleton District Council is not expected to take action to prevent such incidents happening again on the land.

Council officers believe it would be a waste of public money because there have been few incidents involving travellers in recent years.

The council's director of planning and environmental services, Steve Quartermain, said: "Such instances occur infrequently and are usually short duration - it is two years since the last occurrence and the actions on this occasion succeeded in four days, with the travellers leaving the estate. This does not, however, in any way underestimate or belittle the concerns and problems experienced by those businesses affected on these occasions.

"Preventative measures, such as placing security fencing or boulders around the perimeter of vacant sites or ditch and bund, have been suggested.

"Given the infrequency of such occurrences, both legal and human rights issues associated with the travellers and prospective land sales on the estate, it is questionable whether it is a good use of public money to invest in the preventative measures outlined."

Mr Quartermain said the most desirable option for the council would be to sell the land because the authority would not be responsible for security once a sale had been completed.

He added: "It is two years since travellers previously visited the site and there is no reason to believe that the estate will be revisited in the near future."