Taxpayers picking up mess after Travellers leave Sherwood park - Kent

From the Kent and Sussex Courier

TAXPAYERS will have to foot the bill to clear up human excrement and asbestos left at a children's playing field in Tunbridge Wells by a group of Travellers.

Fifteen caravans appeared on council-owned Colebrook Recreational Ground, off Clifton Road, on June 28.

But when the Travellers were moved on less than a week later, they left behind piles of rubbish and dangerous waste.

Contractors were quickly on site to tidy up the playground, which is popular with children from High Brooms and Sherwood.

But the bill for the clear-up was picked up by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, and ultimately residents.

Council leader David Jukes said: "It's absolutely appalling that taxpayers have to pick up the cost of clearing all the mess that piled up in the few days the group was there."

Residents living near the recreation ground, which has a children's play area and football pitches, notified the council when the travellers turned up two weeks ago.

The caravans left on July 4 after a visit from council officers and police, but the authority was left with a big clear-up, estimated to have cost about £1,000.

Parks team leader Pete Every said: "We are still clearing up at Colebrook Recreation Ground following the Travellers' departure.

"Specialist waste contractors needed to remove some of the debris left behind as it included human excrement and asbestos.

"It is estimated that the total cost of clearing the site is in the region of £1,000."

Mr Every apologised to anyone inconvenienced by the clear-up and promised any waste would be removed as quickly as possible.

Bob Backhouse, the borough councillor representing Sherwood, commended the council's "prompt" actions in moving the Travellers off the site and clearing up behind them.