Gypsies leave 14 tonnes of trash behind - Kent

From the Folkestone Herald

A STAGGERING 14 tonnes of rubbish was left behind after Travellers camped on a Stanhope playing field.

Ashford Borough Council (ABC), which owns the land next to Cuckoo Lane Wood, has been left with a £2,275 bill, for one of the largest amounts staff have ever had to clear.

The Gypsy Council said the waste may not all be down to the travelling community, stating that many people use unauthorised encampments as an opportunity to fly-tip.

The rubbish, equivalent in weight to about 28 horses, 14 small cars or three elephants, included a large amount of garden waste, plasterboard and human excrement.

The figures were released to the Herald as the last of the site was cleared last Friday, three weeks after the Travellers left the field.

Borough councillor Neil Shorter said: "I have been in touch with a number of local residents during and after the event and shared my dismay over the way in which this type of occurrence keeps happening. The noise, loss of amenity and general upset this brings should not be underestimated; residents' wellbeing is a significant factor in all ABC try to deliver."

A spokesman for ABC said contractors spent 40 hours clearing the rubbish.

She added: "This was a very large amount of waste– one of the largest amounts we have ever had to deal with in such circumstances – and we are disappointed that this beautiful open space was temporarily blighted for its regular users.

"We investigate cases of fly-tipping and vandalism, and legal action can be taken. If we are able to secure evidence, legal action will be pursued in this instance.

"Anyone with information on such incidents is urged to contact the council, the Environment Agency or Kent Police."

Joseph Jones, of the Gypsy Council, said: "Part of the problem is that the council needs to have a standard response to unauthorised encampments. Even if Gypsies and Travellers want to use dumps, councils often won't let them as their vehicles are too big to go in without traders' licences – that's a bit of a problem. If Travellers turn up, as with any group, there will be a certain amount of rubbish generated."

He said some councils keep sites tidy by providing skips and asking Travellers to share the cost.

Mr Jones added: "Often people do a bit of a clean-out when there's an unauthorised encampment and dump their rubbish there because they know the Travellers will be blamed."