Feeling upset and a little intimidated

I agree with everyone else, I would be very upset.

A year or two back I was in The Netherlands walking with a local and we went past a sort of traveller settlement. Everything was immaculate. I wonder what they do that we don't.

Around where my DD lives the council have placed huge boulders in various places to stop the travellers from accessing the sites. Sadly the one they are currently occupying seems to have been overlooked.

Sadly there probably will be huge amounts of rubbish left behind Sar53 but once cleared up your local authority need to make sure the site cannot be easily accessed again. So sorry you are going through this.

Thank you for your kind replies. I know this happens in lots of areas but when it is literally on your doorstep it is quite overwhelming.
I am worried about damage and rubbish being left behind. Our policeman neighbour has told us not to engage with them and to be vigilant.
This is the third place in our local area that they have broken into in the last few weeks. I hope the eviction notice comes quickly.

We have had a problem with a large group of travellers in the area, they camped right beside a cricket pitch. The state they left the field in was disgusting, they emptied their chemical toilets on there when they left. Then they wonder why nobody wants them on their doorstep. The first thing we were told was to not give the any work ( tree cutting, driveways etc) then they will move on. Just sit tight, lock up properly, badger your local council day in and day out.

Oh no, you are definitely not overreacting - I would be incensed. And yes, I would feel nervous having them so close. Like gillybob's daughter, police warned residents about being extra vigilant with security when some travellers set up camp a few yards from my DS's house last year. They were on a smallish patch of grass - a very wide verge next to the main road where people often walk their dogs. This was separated from a residential property by a 6' fence and their vans were right up against it. I certainly wouldn't have wanted to be the people living in that house!
I wish something could be done to speed up the eviction process - it often takes more than a week, sometimes up to a month - and then they move on the day before the eviction notice is served and set up camp a mile or so up the road so the whole process has to start all over again. Pity the notice can't be a multi-site eviction notice, to cover a wider area!

Some travellers moved their camp to a field we own, it was near impossible to make them leave. The court would not so order. We had round bales of straw placed over the inward road, they went around, ripped the fence, damaged the area and made a mess with trash. Good Luck.

No your'e not overreacting Sar53 if you feel afraid you feel afraid and that's not right. Some travellers recently set up camp not far from my DD's house (she can't see them but they are fairly close). The police have been round warning everyone to take extra care with security etc. Although they say this was just a coincidence and nothing to do with the fact that the travellers have moved into the area

I noticed when I passed earlier the mess was disgusting and they seemed to have chopped some lovely trees down too, but they look like they might be packing up and moving on. Fingers crossed.

I don't think you are overreacting at all. It beggars belief that they get away with this and when they finally move on you can bet your life there will be a lot of mess to clear up.

You have my sympathy.