Fury as taxpayers foot the bill for huge clean-up at illegal travellers’ camp in Flintshire

By Kate Forrester

FURIOUS community leaders say taxpayers will have to foot the bill for the “horrendous mess” left on an industrial estate by travellers.

Flint councillors Ian Roberts and Alex Aldridge say they are appalled at the amount of rubbish that was discarded on Castle Park Industrial Estate, where travellers set up camp last week.

The caravans were set up near the newly-established Dee cycle path, at the back of the park, for several days and Flintshire Council was forced to apply for a court order to move the travellers on.

Cllr Aldridge said: “They have left now, but the mess that has been left behind was absolutely horrendous.

“We are often told we have a moral duty to help travellers, but my moral duty is to the taxpayers of Flintshire, the people I represent and the Flintshire Council workers have had to clear up the mess.

“Millions of pounds has been spent on Castle Park and the footpath along the River Dee next to it, to turn it into a nice place for residents to walk and enjoy the scenery.

“For this amount of mess to be dumped not 300 yards from the public walkway is absolutely disgraceful.”

Cllr Roberts said: “I find it absolutely astonishing that these people can leave a site in such a disgusting, unsanitary condition.

“It shows complete contempt for the local community.“There are old matresses left behind and nappies and used toilet paper in trees.

“It has been dumped on the bank leading down towards the river and if it floods, I’m sure the Environment Agency will be very concerned.”

The pair are now calling on Flintshire Council to prosecute those responsible for leaving the rubbish.

He added: “I am delighted with the response from council workers in clearing up the site, but there are laws in place in this county, set by Flintshire Council, on flytipping.

“No taxpayer would be able to dump their rubbish somewhere without being fined, rightfully so.

“The council must seek to prosecute the people responsible for the mess on Castle Park. If we turn a blind eye to this, then the law is unfair.”

The surface debris has been removed, and Andy Macbeth, Flintshire Council’s environmental services manager, said a clean-up operation is currently under way, but it is too early to estimate the cost of it.

He added: “Sandstone blocks are set to be installed on the site to make it more secure.”

Travellers’ plea to Wrexham residents: ‘Don’t be frightened of us’

By Claire Gallagher

TRAVELLERS have sent out a message to worried residents: ‘We’re not bad people’.

The Romany gipsies living on their own land off Daisy Lane, Rossett, are anxious to put their case after another group of travellers set up camp in Wrexham last week.

A group of travellers, unknown to the gipsies living at Daisy Lane, set up camp on Maesgwyn playing fields last week.

The Daisy Lane families say they have sympathy for the other group because there are not enough pitches for travellers in Wrexham.

Jeremy Wells, 30, who lives with his wife Lisa, 33, and their six children at Daisy Lane said: “The problem is there is nowhere to go for them and nowhere they can dispose of rubbish properly.”

Speaking about the public’s negative attitude to travellers, Mr Wells (pictured) said: “The problem is people don’t know us.“We want to say to the public ‘don’t be frightened of us’.

“We don’t want this negative image because we’re not all like that.“We have never caused any trouble here and live in a peaceful community.

“We don’t want to be tarred with the same brush as other travellers who may cause trouble.”

The six families on the site are waiting for the planning inspectorate to rule on an application to change the land from agricultural to have six caravan pitches.

They have spent thousands of pounds renovating the park to make it into a home and pay for electricity, have a sewage system and a septic tank as well as a small shed serving as a utility room.

Mr Wells added: “We pay our taxes like everyone else,” added Jeremy.

The children, Jeremy Jnr, three, Diomante, four, Analise, nine Shamalia, eight months, Soniell, eight and Sinead five, go to St Peter’s school in Rossett and Mr and Mrs Wells are registered with a doctor in Rossett.

Lisa Wells said: “It would be nice to have more respect,” said Lisa.

“A few people have not looked at me or have called my children names.”But the couple say that in general the community has been supportive.

The planning decision for the Daisy Lane site is expected in the next couple of weeks and say they will appeal if it does not go in their favour.