RESIDENTS have reacted angrily after a trail of debris and flytipping has been left on land vacated by travellers.
A group of caravans had parked up on Army land near the Cpl Budd gym off Berehurch Hall Road in Colchester.
The travellers have since moved on but a resident who’s property faces the playing field said it is now covered in mess.
The pensioner said he saw a tipper truck entering the site yesterday evening, before the travellers were seen moving on at around 8pm.
He said the field has been left littered with garden rubbish such as tree branches and clippings, black bags filled with household waste, food and drink wrappers, clothing, dirty nappies and miscellaneous junk.
Councillor Dave Harris said he believes whoever is responsible for leaving all the waste behind should be charged for the removal cost.
A 76-year-old resident, who witnessed fly tipping from his window, said: “It’s horrible stuff, it’s really nasty.
“We are involved with that field, we regularly use it to walk our dogs. It’s such a shame to see it like this.”
The travellers began to leave the field yesterday evening having first set up camp on Sunday night.
Mr Harris said: “It’s going to have to be picked up and charged on to them. The Essex Traveller Liaison Unit have their details.
“I would certainly charge them, that’s what we would do with any other resident in town. I’m hoping that the Army and traveller liaison group will do that.
“I’d certainly ask them to pay, it’s only fair. It is their mess and their responsibility.
“I will encourage working with the army to identify the culprits and charge them accordingly for the clean up fees. Why should we as taxpayers have to pay for this?
“I will email Essex County Council and ask them to work to the army to charge the costs.
“It’s the army’s land and they will clear it, but they should work with the liaison group to deal with this and charge the culprits."
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