The council and police have come under fire for 'slow action' in dealing with travellers - following reports the group have forced business to shut.

Matt Dent Labour councillor for Kursaal said he's "very disappointed" in the way Essex Police and Southend Council dealt with the reports of incidents after the group set up camp in the Rendevouz Casino car park at the Southed Kursaal site. 

He said: "The leaseholder of the site, with whom the legal responsibility for site security rests, has largely been absent from the scene. And given that this is the third time that this has happened in recent months, their failure to secure the site speaks to an unwillingness or an inability to do so. I am of the opinion that the lease should be reviewed, as to whether they are fulfilling the duties upon them.

READ MORE >> Travellers in Southend: Businesses 'too scared to open'

"The police have also been too slow to act. Since being first notified of the group's arrival in the car park, I have received many reports of noise, nuisance, and disruptive, antisocial and violent behaviour, which I have passed on to the police. I believe they could have taken action much earlier, and avoided a lot of the problems that followed.

"And I have to say that I also believe the Council could have done much better. Whilst unable to take action directly on the site due to it being private land, I feel more support could have been given to residents and businesses affected, and communication with ward councillors could have been much improved. I also think that the Council could and should have been much more forthright with the leaseholder.

"My hope is that the group will leave the site without further incident. I also hope that lessons can and will be learned from this sorry state of affairs. I offer my profound apologies to the residents and businesses who have had to endure disruption to their lives and livelihoods, and I will endeavour to continue to keep everyone as well informed as I can."

His comments come as Adventure Island confirmed yesterday the had been "told" to close early as a result of the encampment.