A large group of travellers who broke into a Trowbridge recreation field left behind toilet paper and soiled nappies, say a group who cleaned up the area afterwards.
The travellers camped for three days at the Queen Elizabeth II recreation field off Wiltshire Drive before being moved on Monday, June 5 by Wiltshire Council and Wiltshire Police.
On June 10, a group of volunteers went in to clear up the rubbish the travellers left behind and make sure the field was safe for children to use.
They found the used toilet paper and soiled nappies in the hedgerow bordering the site, which the travellers had claimed that they owned.
Cllr Antonio Piazza, who coordinated the clean-up, said: “A massive thank you to the several local residents who gave up their time to help tidy up the Queen Elizabeth II Recreational Field and Elm Grove Play Area on Saturday morning.
“Much of the litter had already been picked up by a Wiltshire Council team and local residents, which is a lovely position to be in when your community automatically bands together to clean-up this precious park and play area.
“We did find some rogue used toilet paper and nappies that our guests kindly left behind in the hedges, along with lots of historic rubbish that has just been here for some time, which has now mostly been cleaned up.
“I have written to Public Health Wiltshire for advice and also requested that Trowbridge Town Council, who manage the site, look at decontaminating sections of the site where human waste has been dumped.
“My biggest concern is for children who play on the site and for dogs whose owners allow to roam; something that has already happened involves a dog playing and rolling in the human waste on site.
“I have also called Trowbridge Neighbourhood Services and requested for the long grass in the play area to be cut, alongside a portion of the field.
“We want to leave part of it for rewilding to support nature but also have a recreational element so that children can play football and dog walkers can enjoy it.
“They should be visiting the Drynham ward this week and giving the place a well-needed trim.”
The travellers arrived with around 15 vans, lorries and caravans on Saturday, June 3 after being kicked off a field next to the Hope Nature Centre café at nearby Southwick Country Park.
During their short stay they upset locals, who claimed they were riding dirt bikes and quad bikes around the Wiltshire Drive housing estate late at night.
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