Monday 6 May 2013

Travellers blamed for trashing park believed to be Charlie Chaplin's birthplace - West Midlands

From the Birmingham Mail

This was the “horrendous” mess said to have been left by Travellers who invaded the Smethwick park famed as Charlie Chaplin’s birthplace.


Gas canisters, building materials, clothes, food, CDs and even a dog bowl was among the rubbish left at Black Patch Park.

The 20-acre park, on the border of Birmingham and Sandwell, was home to a Romany Gypsy community in the 19th century and legend has it that Chaplin was born in a caravan there.

But now nearby residents have grown tired of the repeated invasions, which they claimed left the area on “lockdown” as soon as the Travellers arrived.

They alleged gates had been broken down and said community members had even been attacked.

A resident, who was too afraid to be named, said: “It is horrendous and no-one seems to want to do anything about it.

“They smash the gates down to gain access and there’s a lot of violence and drinking.

“I’ve heard of people being assaulted by some of the Travellers.

“It’s dangerous going into work and the whole area is virtually on lockdown when they arrive. Something needs to be done.”

Founded in 2003, The Friends of Black Patch Park have successfully campaigned to retain the entire area of the park as open space.

Andrew Simons, from the group, said: “This has been happening for the last two or three years.

“Over the years, most of the residents living on the Sandwell side of the park have moved.

“A mound of rubble has been piled up in an attempt to stop them getting on to the park but they can easily circumvent these barriers.

"Money has to be spent clearing the mess up. But it never gets cleared properly so there is a gradual accumulation of rubbish.”

Chaplin’s link with the park emerged with the discovery of a secret letter in his desk which claimed he was born there.

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