A group of Travellers who camped up outside a popular Nottinghamshire leisure centre have left rubbish including takeaway boxes and dog mess at the site, a local councillor has said. It was first reported that the group arrived overnight on Wednesday (May 25) on a patch of land near the Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre in Mansfield.
It has now been confirmed that the group have left, but one councillor has raised concerns about the amount of rubbish that has been left behind. Councillor Ben Brown, the Conservative representative for the West Bank ward, said: "We can see the absolute state of the place – they've turned it into a dump.
"Human defecation, dog mess, litter, vomit, rubbish, beer bottles and general mess is strewn all over the site. Bellway Homes will now have to fork out a considerable amount of money to put the place right.
What is the worst junction in Nottingham? Let us know here.
"I’d invite the group to come back and clear up their own mess. My constituents, the council and Bellway Homes shouldn't have to put up with this type of scruffy, inconsiderate behaviour."
Councillor Brown also said that the incident shows the need to have dedicated sites for the Travelling community in Mansfield. Mansfield District Council did start work on creating new sites in 2019, consulting on 15 potential locations for an eventual four sites.
But the authority then said this would be included in a review of its local housing plan, due between 2024 and 2026. In terms of rubbish left at the site, most of it now seems to have been cleared away.
But items including wine bottles and bin bags full of rubbish were still visible in the ditches around the grassland on Friday (June 2). A Mansfield District Council spokesperson confirmed: "The council worked with the landowners, Bellway, and undertook relevant welfare checks.
"The land owners had taken appropriate legal action to evict the travellers who we understand have moved from the site of their own accord. Bellway will be responsible for the clear up and making the space safe."
Read next:
- Tributes to generous Nottingham 'legend' who died in mobility scooter crash
- City's tallest building 'depressing' tenants as revamp scrapped
- Housebuilder's apology over disruption after lorry shed its load
- 5 Nottinghamshire areas named as potential locations for underground hot water plans
- Plans announced to create flats at former coal yard
