Clean-up after travellers descend on Denton school fields

Council workers were moving in to clear up after travellers were legally moved on from a Tameside site.

A large group of travellers had occupied playing fields behind St Thomas More RC College in Denton last week.

Residents said the travellers camped in the field for five days.

Ian Pascoe, Operations Supervisor at Tameside Council, said: “I arrived at around 8.30am on Monday morning. They had left the usual mess behind and it’s left up to the council to clean up. There was human excrement, food waste, clothing, nappies, all sorts.

“Throughout the borough of Tameside we do have spates of these incidents where they come and pitch up, then we go through the court process and they move on.

“The issue is just clean up after yourself because otherwise it’s left to the council taxpayer to pick up the bill.”

Residents shared their frustration on social media, one commenting: “At the end of the day, they are pulling up next to a school and our kids have to stay in on a break and a lunch time because they are allowing their dogs to dig and climb under the fence and attack the children and teachers (which happened a couple of years ago!) and it’s just not deemed safe for the children.

“As well as that, they leave the field in a total mess, drive around on their motor bikes/quads and no one dare to say boo to them.”

Tameside Council Executive Member responsible for Environmental Services, Cllr Denise Ward said: “A large group of travellers set up an illegal encampment on land owned by the council south of St Thomas More School, Denton, late last Tuesday evening.

“Council officers immediately started the legal process to evict them, having received many complaints from local residents. A court order was issued last Friday for their immediate removal. However, this became quite challenging as the travellers refused to leave.

“As a result, bailiffs were instructed to enforce their removal and the site was finally cleared by Sunday evening. A clean-up operation commenced on Monday to bring the community greenspace back to its original condition.” 

Cllr Andrew Gwynne added: “I wish to thank Tameside Council and GMP for their swift action in obtaining a court order to seek possession of the site, and to clear up the rubbish and debris that was left behind. A good job by all.”