OFFICIALS are facing a clean-up job this morning on the Demesnes in Barnard Castle after travellers left an unauthorised camp.
Some of the rubbish has been bagged up and placed next to council bins but lots of it lies strewn around the beauty spot with litter thrown into verges and hedges. Items left around include toys, DIY nails, empty gas canisters, a dog kennel, old appliances, rabbit carcases, food waste and cans, dog dirt and takeaway rubbish. Trees have also been cut down and residents have reported that this happened since the unauthorised camp was established. Litter has also been left around the play area.
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The large group, who came from the Cardiff area, pitched up last week despite the entrance being chained and padlocked. The town council has said the chain was “hacksawed through” .
Officials say the group had declined to use the designated stop-over areas at Shaw Bank which was set up to help provide a place to stay during the Appleby Fair period.
Yesterday, Barnard Castle Police served eviction notices to the travellers on the Demesnes as well as those in Staindrop.
A spokesman said at the time: “Every Traveller involved in the illegal encampments in Barnard Castle and Staindrop has been served with a notice to quit the land. Police, along with partners from the Durham County Council Gypsy Romany Traveller service, visited every caravan personally to serve the notices. The Demesnes and Staindrop village green are expected to be cleared soon. We will continue to work with partners to ensure the legal eviction process is carried out.”
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Residents near the Demesnes say they were kept awake at night by children knocking on their doors in the early hours with one householder saying a skinned rabbit was thrown at his house. They are now calling for action to stop a repeat of the unauthorised camp.
One resident said: “What a mess. You wouldn’t have thought there was a site for them at Shaw Bank with toilets and bins.”
Another who lives opposite added: “They’ve had years to come up with a solution. What happens if they come back? Something needs to be done.”
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The Demesnes is managed by the town council. A spokesman said this morning: “Our focus today, now they have moved on, is to look to arrange the clear up of the area. We are making use of the resources of Durham County Council in partnership to begin the clear up later this morning hopefully.”
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