Richmond Council chiefs have listened to pleas from residents to help them keep Travellers from setting up camp on Kew Green.

Every year, the Council and residents have faced disruption, antisocial behaviour and threats as Travellers drive on to the Green for periods in the spring through to the summer.

Each time, the Council is forced to go to the expense of launching legal action to have them removed, while there are also clean-up costs to deal with the waste.

Now, following requests from residents, the Council has agreed to put a knee-high railing around those parts of the Green where there is currently no way to keep vehicles out.

Red lines mark where new fence will be added (Credit Richmond Borough Council)

The work is due to take place in June and will be completed after the annual Kew Fete is held on the site.

Just last week, a small group of Travellers set up home with caravans and vehicles on the Green.

One resident challenged the Council and police to take action, saying: "Maybe you would like to suggest they don't do the wheelies at speed? They are driving fast over the green and there are pedestrians everywhere!"

Another said: "They have also been harassing the birds on the pond. They caught a duck this afternoon and only released it when confronted. With so many young and nesting birds there this could be a disaster. Please act ASAP."

A Council spokesperson told Nub News: "The Council has approved a request from residents to fit fencing around Kew Green that will be installed mid-June following the Kew Fete, which was scheduled prior to the request, to ensure the delivery of the event is not impacted."

The decision was made by the Chair of the Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports committee, Cllr Julia Neden-Watts, and it did not need to go through the normal planning consent system as it was a land management decision.

The Council said the fact the new fence, which will have a gate to allow Council vehicle access, had such significant support from residents meant that the decision did not need to go through the committee process.