Travellers left ‘potentially hazardous' POO at park to fester in 30C heat…the smell was ‘unbearable'
Locals living near the Hough Ends Fields in Chorlton, Manchester, have complained of unbearable smells following the encampment.
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Caravans parked up at Hough End playing fields in Mauldeth Road in West Manchester - about 200 yards from the GMP Training and Mounted police complex
Credit: STEVE ALLEN
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The playing fields were taped off, with used toilet paper and nappies left strewn around
Credit: STEVE ALLEN
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The field is used by rugby union team Broughton Park FC and is popular with dog walkers
Credit: STEVE ALLEN
It comes as a large traveller encampment was evicted from the playing fields last Friday - with the city council then posting signs reading: "Potentially Hazardous Waste Do Not Enter.
"Cleaning will be commencing as soon as possible."
The authority also taped off a vast area of woodland with the same "do not enter" signs in place.
Around 30 caravans had pitched up from June 12 for eight days with residents and dog walkers horrified at the level of filth and muck spread around.
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The pitches invaded by the Travellers are used by rugby union team Broughton Park FC.
One 80-year-old walking her dog
Sky
told The Sun: "It was disgusting. Dirty toilet paper just blowing about, nappies and sanitary towels.
"One pick-up truck just raced onto the field and missed my dog Sky by just inches – they have no respect and don't seem to care.
"They left a pile of cuttings from trees and garden waste down the other end and that needed clearing away.
Most read in The Sun
"The smell was absolutely horrendous."
International business student Conor Gregory, 22, who lives nearby, hails originally from Appleby in Cumbria - which hosts the annual Horse Fair every June.
Shops close down and streets patrolled by cops as thousands of travellers gear up for 2nd day of Appleby Horse Fair
Conor added: "It has got a lot worse more recently."
Shopworker Kyra Crump, 18, said: "The litter and mess and other filth is just appalling. They obviously have no common decency – otherwise they would clear it all up themselves.
"If you go out you have to watch where you are walking as there is so much waste on the floor.
"People were posting images of just how disgusting it was.
"They don't care about the local community at all. One minute they are here and the
next
they are gone."
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The city council blocked off the park for cleaning
Credit: STEVE ALLEN
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Business student Conor Gregory
Credit: STEVE ALLEN
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Local shop worker Kyra Crump
Credit: STEVE ALLEN
Games host Connie Harphand, 25, who has a flat overlooking the playing fields, said: "It was a shock waking up one morning and seeing them all there.
"My flat mate sent me a video of the antics and we had vans and police cars ever day.
"We probably had 30 or so caravans and they were just driving through an entrance they had made for themselves on the main road."
A 59-year-old handyman, from Altrincham, who works in the area, but declined to be named, told The Sun: "I've worked around here for 25 years and they have been turning up more in recent years.
"Some of the people I work for are very appalled that it's happening so much – they fear it will have an impact on property prices and want the council to keep them out."
The city council has confirmed it has blocked access to sections of Hough End Playing Fields, for the clean up and a vast skip stands on the path with all the tapes and warning signs now removed along with the waste.
A council spokesperson said the waste was found after a "traveller encampment" was "evicted" from the Fields last Friday (June 20).
A statement read: "An encampment of travellers was evicted from Hough End Playing Fields on Friday, June 20.
'The site was assessed and re-secured and an initial clean-up operation to remove a huge quantity of waste was undertaken.
"The removal of the remaining waste by our contractor Biffa has started today to ensure that this part of Hough End is re-opened and accessible for residents once again.'
The statement from the authority added it will investigate security for the park.
The spokesperson continued: 'We continuously
review
our site security and we will work with the rugby club to see how we can both better secure this site for the
future
."
The council spent millions on a controversial expansion of the Fields' leisure centre that opened in 2022, with campaigners arguing building car parks and artificial sports pitches on the grass was bad for the environment.
The Sun has contacted Greater Manchester Police for comment.
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The encampment was evicted earlier this month
Credit: STEVE ALLEN
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Police at the park during the eviction
Credit: STEVE ALLEN
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Toilet paper, nappies and other toilet waste was left behind
Credit: STEVE ALLEN
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