Illegal encampment waste 'worst seen' in 15 years

A council director has said that 18 tonnes of waste was left at an illegal encampment when it was vacated.

"There was a multitude of waste - probably the worst waste we have ever seen in traveller evictions for this council," said Scott Mason, director of amenities at Bridgwater Town Council.

Mason said staff spent days clearing "multiple heaps" of rubbish, such as sofas and washing machines, after the group left the site at Whitegates beauty spot in Wembdon, Somerset, on 15 August, having been there since 4 August.

He said the cost of clearing the encampment, on a site popular with children and dog walkers, was approximately £5,000.

"It [the field] was a very different place to how it's looking now," Mason said.

The town council looks after the maintenance and cleaning of the Somerset Council-owned park.

It said it had cleared the field and had placed large concrete blocks at the site to prevent access by vehicles.

"Given my experience in managing parks and open spaces for 15 years, it is by far the worst we've ever seen," Mason said.

"Unfortunately, it's our town council that's been left to pick up the pieces and the cost of that."

Federica Smith-Roberts, Somerset Council's lead member for communities, said the council was looking for land for transient sites.

"We definitely need to do more," she said.

"We don't have a transient site in Somerset and that's something I'd like us to deliver.

"We're looking for land that would be suitable [but] that takes time."

She said that she believed it was important to provide for the traveller community but she said all views should be taken into account.

"It's a balance whilst recognising that also there are community views around that," she said.

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