Residents help clean up litter including human waste after travellers leave park

Volunteers have helped clean up rubbish left behind after a group of travellers moved on from a Stone Cross park.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th May 2021, 14:27 BST
Updated 11th May 2021, 16:34 BST
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The travellers had set up in Adur Park, just off Lion Hill, on Friday, May 7 before an order was issued by the authorities.

They left on Sunday May 9.

A spokesperson from Wealden District Council said, “On Monday May 11 Wealden District Council was contacted by local residents who had been litter picking after the park had been vacated.

Some of the rubbish that residents from Patcham Mill Estate collected in Adur Park (Photo by Jon Rigby) SUS-211105-091621001Some of the rubbish that residents from Patcham Mill Estate collected in Adur Park (Photo by Jon Rigby) SUS-211105-091621001
Some of the rubbish that residents from Patcham Mill Estate collected in Adur Park (Photo by Jon Rigby) SUS-211105-091621001
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“Bags of litter were left collected together and these have now been removed by our street cleansing contractor, Biffa.

“We have also been informed by Westham Parish Council of some reports of human waste being left in the undergrowth at the park.

“Wealden street scene officers are investigating this matter and we will be working with the Parish Council as the owner of the park to help them clean up.”

Local resident Jenny Wallace-Elliot, who joined others in helping collect some of the rubbish, said, “I think it is disgusting.

Some of the rubbish in Adur Park (Photo by Jon Rigby) SUS-211105-091645001Some of the rubbish in Adur Park (Photo by Jon Rigby) SUS-211105-091645001
Some of the rubbish in Adur Park (Photo by Jon Rigby) SUS-211105-091645001

“The council should do more and make places more secure.

“The residents have done a remarkable job.”

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Westham Parish Council clerk Susan Sanders added, “On behalf of Westham Parish Council I would like to thank East Sussex County Council,

“Wealden District Council and the police for helping to resolve the situation in Adur Park very quickly.

Jenny Wallace-Elliott next to some of the rubbish that her and other residents from Patcham Mill Estate collected in Adur Park (Photo by Jon Rigby). SUS-211105-090912001Jenny Wallace-Elliott next to some of the rubbish that her and other residents from Patcham Mill Estate collected in Adur Park (Photo by Jon Rigby). SUS-211105-090912001
Jenny Wallace-Elliott next to some of the rubbish that her and other residents from Patcham Mill Estate collected in Adur Park (Photo by Jon Rigby). SUS-211105-090912001

“Also, we would like to thank the volunteers who were out first thing on Monday morning litter picking the area. However, we are waiting for Wealden DC officers to inspect the site and let us know their views before we can completely clear the site especially in regard to the long grass and wooded areas.”

In regards to making the park more secure the Parish Council clerk said, “At the moment as you are probably aware we are still in the process of clearing the site and we are unsure as to how long this will take because bags have been thrown into trees and bushes.

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“This means that we have to allow access for council vehicles to clean up the site.

“We are at the moment considering a number of options to prevent a recurrence of what happened last week but we have to carefully consider the right balance.

“On the one hand the public quite rightly want free access to Adur Park but on the other hand we have to prevent any recurrence of the damage to the park.

“Obviously it is totally impossible to secure the park and let the public have access at the same time.”

Related topics:ResidentsStone Cross