A leisure centre remains shut with no reopening date after a large traveller group arrived at a popular playing field in Southampton last week.

Staff at Chamberlayne Leisure Centre on Weston Lane "have faced abuse" after a group of around 20 caravans turned up to the green space on Friday morning.

Residents living on the road told the Echo that travellers come to the area every year and have caused problems in the past.

While police were called to the popular dog walking field at the time, Chamberlayne Leisure Centre itself subsequently closed on Saturday following "disruption" and "abuse".

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A Places Leisure spokesperson told the Echo: “Due to the accessibility issues caused at the centre, as well as some disruption and incidents where our colleagues have faced abuse, we took the decision to close Chamberlayne Leisure Centre on Saturday (10/05/2025).

"The centre remains closed to all members and visitors. Although we do not have a confirmed reopening date at the moment, we are working closely with the relevant local authorities to open the centre as soon as possible."

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All booking and sessions that were set to take place during the closure period will be refunded or rescheduled, with Places Leisure contacting customers to arrange this directly.

Members at Chamberlayne Leisure Centre can use the gym facilities at Bitterne Leisure Centre in the mean time.

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The spokesperson continued: "We are sorry for any inconvenience and are working hard to reopen at the earliest opportunity.”

The group turned up on Friday.The group turned up on Friday. (Image: NQ) Speaking to the Echo on Friday, one Weston Lane resident who lives near the leisure centre said: "They have been here a number of times before, both on the field behind the leisure centre and on the big field at Mayfield Park.

"I don't think there has ever been a rise in crime or anything like that, but the litter is disgraceful."

The person said they walk their dog through the woods and that it has been an "absolute mess", with "even human faeces" being left on the ground.

"I believe the council have placed big logs and installed barriers to try and stop the travellers getting onto the field, but it doesn't seem to have worked too well in this case," the resident said.

"The other main issue is the noise at night. Where the field backs onto our homes it can be really noisy at times."