Harlow businessman's disgust at mess left by Travellers - Essex

From the Harlow Star

A FURIOUS business owner was forced to shut up shop for two days after a group of Travellers set up camp outside his warehouse.

David Davison, managing director of 1st Call Mobility, said his staff turned up at work on Saturday morning to find the company’s head office in Barrows Road surrounded by caravans.

Mr Davison claimed his employees were unable to enter the building as the main entrance was blocked by a mobile home and the back door was being used as a toilet.

"I was stunned; the building was completely surrounded and my staff couldn’t even get in," he said.

"I tried to reason with the Travellers but all I got in return were threats and verbal abuse. They were an incredibly aggressive, intimidating bunch."

Mr Davison contacted the police and Harlow Council but said he was given "short shrift" by both.

"The Travellers were behaving like animals, ripping down our signage and chucking paint around," he said.

"At one point they even set off our intruder alarm, but the council said there was nothing they could do and although the police eventually turned up to talk to them they really didn’t seem that bothered about helping us."

When the Travellers finally left the site on Monday evening they dumped rubbish including soiled nappies, smashed crockery and empty gas canisters in the car park - and even hurled a smashed-up TV set into bushes.

"The mess they left behind was absolutely disgusting," said Mr Davison. "It was like they had been there three months, not three days.

"There were smashed bottles, filled nappies and empty cans everywhere and the whole area stank like a public toilet."

It is believed the Travellers came to Harlow to seek hospital treatment for one of their group and had originally set up camp on playing fields near Nicholls Field for several days before being moved on by Harlow Council.

They then relocated to the business park on Friday evening, telling Essex Police they planned to move on by Monday afternoon.

According to policee, the owner of the site agreed to wait until Monday before taking any action against the Travellers for trespass following advice from the police and the council.

A police spokesman added: "We were called back to the Barrows Road site on Monday afternoon following reports that an intruder alarm at one of the business units had been set off. However, officers attending the scene found no evidence of criminal activity.

"Police later returned to the site at around 9pm and found the group had moved on."

But Mr Davison said he had been left unimpressed by the police response.

"I’ve lost two days of business because of this but no doubt the Travellers will get away scot-free," he said.

"They have absolutely no respect for anyone and they know they won’t face any repercussions. It’s incredibly frustrating."