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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Lyell Tweed

'I'm absolutely horrified': Human faeces and rubbish left on playing fields after travellers leave

Images show bags of rubbish and other waste including human faeces left strewn across busy playing fields after caravans set up camp.

Local residents and other users of the field, which hosts rugby, football, and other sports teams, reported numerous instances of anti-social behaviour after dozens of caravans set-up an encampment on Hough End fields in south Manchester. Football teams and dog walkers trying to use the field were allegedly 'intimidated' after the camp set up and turned the site into a 'no-go area', according to a local resident.

The community had been on the field for more than two weeks before moving on this weekend. Manchester City Council had served a notice and was awaiting a court date in this time.

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After the travellers moved on, photos showed multiple bags of rubbish and human waste left. A local councillor has said they will be looking to clean up the field as soon as possible.

One local resident told the Manchester Evening News: "I've got nothing against the community but not when there was so much anti-social behaviour happening. One man was trying to take his children swimming at the leisure centre and was attacked by some dogs.

Human waste has been left around the park, according to residents (Handouts)

"A team using the football pitches were racially abused with other teams equipment stolen. There's a big safety concern amongst residents around the human waste which there is so much of.

"Some were driving cars and motorbikes at people using the field. The fields are so well used by everyone in the area but people were scared to go on it."

She added that people were being told they 'werent allowed to go onto the fields' while the travellers camp was still there.

"One of my neighbours has made more than 20 reports of different incidents to police and the council but nothing has been done. People who do go on the field are being told they're not allowed on. They were saying the path near Mauldeth Road West belongs to them.

"If they wanted respect they should have shown some to residents. We've had traveller communities on the park before and they've been very nice, but this was something else."

The resident said that it was originally thought it could take months to get an order to move the community. "It's been absolutely terrible behaviour, disgraceful," they added.

The council have said they will begin cleaning up the waste as soon as possible (Handouts)

"It's going to cost so much money to safely clear up all the waste and rubbish, there's so much poo. I'm absolutely horrified."

Speaking at the end of last week, Didsbury West councillor Richard Kilpatrick said: "We got the council to serve the notice last week and we have been told that they will be moving on over the weekend. There will still be an enormous amount of clearing up to do which the council have told us will start as soon as they leave.

"But after that I will be asking the council to consider ways to prevent access like this in the future which they have assured me they will do. The travellers have moved onto another park. It is a result of lack of temporary places for travellers that they use these options.

"The council does give provision for long term caravans but not the temporary ones. The experience over on Hough End has been really bad and lots of tension. Hopefully the fields will be restored back soon."

In a statement last week Manchester City Council said that they had served a section 77 notice in regard to the encampment on Hough End Playing Field and were awaiting a court date. They added they were liaising with partners at Greater Manchester Police monitor the situation.

Greater Manchester Police have been approached for a comment.

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