A Breightmet playing field has been left littered with rubbish after a Traveller encampment moved on from the site.
The encampment arrived at New House Farm playing field, near Blenheim Road in Breightmet, last Tuesday (August 25).
Around a dozen caravans parked up sporadically around the edge of the field.
At the time, a member of the encampment said the group would be there for “a few days” and there were no obvious signs of litter across the playing field.
But when The Bolton News returned at 10am on Tuesday the encampment had left and rubbish was scattered across the field.
The litter appeared to be concentrated in areas where cars and caravans had been parked during the previous week.
It included plastic bottles, nappies, wipes and bags of clothes.
Larger items had also been left, including mats, two mattresses and a gas canister.
It has not been established who discarded the rubbish, however, the timing and location appear to coincide with areas occupied by the encampment.
While walking across the field, a resident who was out for a morning stroll said: “It’s disgusting.”
He pointed to several areas where larger items had been left in bushes and said there were still items allegedly remaining from the previous time Travellers had occupied the site.
Council action
The Bolton News has spoken to Bolton Council about the condition of the field.
A council spokesperson said: “The clean up will start today.”
The most recent encampment was served with a legal order by Bolton Council requiring those present to leave the land.
The council had said it would take the group to court if they did not leave and was also liaising with police over reported antisocial behaviour.
Cllr Sean Fielding told The Bolton News: “It's frustrating that taxpayers are left footing the clean-up bill after travellers have visited New House Farm again.
“The encampment was illegal and the council went through the process to remove them in accordance with the law, but we need to look at measures that could be taken to prevent access again in future.”
In early June, another encampment arrived at the field, with cars and caravans parked around its edge.
The group left before a court summons was served, and Cllr Fielding subsequently arranged for the area to be cleaned.
The cost of cleaning up sites in Bolton after Travellers have left can run into hundreds of pounds.
Unauthorised encampments on council land
According to Bolton Council, when an unauthorised encampment appears, officers visit the site to carry out an assessment and issue a code of conduct, along with Trading Standards guidance.
The council first serves a direction under Section 77(1) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, requiring those present to leave the land within 24 hours.
If they do not leave as requested, the council can apply to have the matter listed before a court.
Once a court date has been set, the council serves a summons under Section 78 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, informing those at the encampment of the hearing date.
When the order is served, those occupying the land must leave within a reasonable period, typically seven days.
If they do not comply, the council says it will continue to liaise with police to assist in enforcing the court order.
Once Travellers have left, the council says the site will be cleaned and restored as soon as possible.
The council's guidance also states that those occupying land should not dump or burn rubbish and should leave the land clean and tidy.
Tougher fines for waste crime
The condition of the field comes as the Government has stepped up its crackdown on littering and fly-tipping.
In July, the Government announced that the maximum on-the-spot fine for fly-tipping would increase to £5,000, up from £1,000, while the maximum fine for littering on streets would rise to £750 from today (September 1).
The measures are intended to act as a stronger deterrent against waste crime.
The Government has also given local authorities new guidance on identifying and seizing vehicles involved in fly-tipping.
Any criminal activity or antisocial behaviour should be reported to police by calling 101.
Residents seeking further information can email housingservices@bolton.gov.uk or call 01204 338721.
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