South Cambridgeshire District Council workers have removed 420 kg – the equivalent of 17 wheelie bins full – of rubbish that were left behind by Travellers who pulled onto Stapleford recreation ground.

The Council has been providing Stapleford Parish Council with advice and assistance since Friday night, when a group of caravans pulled onto the green.

The land is owned by Stapleford Parish Council, who served an eviction notice on the group requiring them to move on.

The last caravan then left the site yesterday (Sunday) afternoon.

A joint clean-up operation has since been taking place, with Council workers, the Parish Council and villagers working together to bag-up rubbish left behind and remove it.

The Council has also provided Stapleford Parish Council with details of specialist contractors who can remove animal and human waste which has been deposited onto the site.

South Cambridgeshire District Council Leader, Cllr Peter Topping, said: “As soon as the Parish Council contacted us our officers immediately sprang into action and provided them with the support and advice they needed to resolve the situation at this picturesque green space.

“Our advice meant the Parish Council could begin to take the steps needed to remove the illegal caravans from their land.

“We have already helped take away the equivalent of 17 wheelie bins full of rubbish from the recreation ground and are continuing to work closely with Stapleford Parish Council to return it to its previous state.

“As a Council we are able to provide advice and information to our parish colleagues when they are dealing with situations like this on land that they are responsible for.

“I’d like to pay tribute to our staff who have been working on the clean-up, and also the volunteers from Stapleford that have given up their time to tidy up mess left by others on their recreation ground.”

A Council clean-up crew will return to Stapleford tomorrow to attempt to remove waste from the children’s playground area, which was cordoned off during their visit to the site earlier today.

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South Cambridgeshire District Council

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