The council says it is unable to reveal at this stage how much the traveller incursions on its parks has cost them this summer.

Hertsmere Borough Council has repeatedly applied for removal orders from St Albans Magistrates Court after travellers pitched up on parks across Borehamwood.

Since June, Ripon Park, Potterswood Park, Meadow Park, Brook Meadow, and now Kenilworth Park have become temporary homes for travellers. It has led to cries from people on social media to protect the parks from encroachment and the council says it understands the “public’s frustration” but has to follow the correct legal process.

Cllr Seamus Quilty, responsible for the environment said: “With all traveller incursions, the council has to follow the correct legal process, which involves issuing a notice of direction in the first instance before seeking the removal order through the courts. However, this process can take some time and is dependent on the availability of the court.

“Measures have been taken to protect our parks, though these are open spaces available for everyone’s enjoyment and therefore due consideration has to be given to the potential loss of public amenity.

“Other boroughs, both within Hertfordshire and across the country, have faced a similar situation when planning their response to traveller incursions.

“We continue to work with our Hertsmere MP, Oliver Dowden, to seek changes to the legislation to make it easier for us to tackle the problem in future.

“We understand the public’s frustration, but we are doing our best to address the situation within the parameters of the law.”

In response to the question of how much the incursions has cost the council, a spokesman said: “We’re not in a position to reveal the overall cost of our response to the travellers at this time as we are still collating the figures. We need to consider the cost of staffing, legal costs and the clean-up operation.”

The latest group moved into Kenilworth Park having moved from Brook Meadow and then to Ripon Park. Welfare checks have been conducted on the group, which has six caravans and six vehicles.