Travellers leave a trail of destruction at Chase Leisure Centre

A councillor has declared that action must be taken immediately to prevent a repeat of the havoc caused by the 40 caravans which pitched for almost a week.

Councillor Maureen Freeman today said the camp, which was on the car park off Stafford Road until Tuesday, was the biggest illegal encampment she had ever seen in Cannock.

Yesterday officers from the district council were cleaning up the mess left behind and the authority is currently counting the cost racked up by the travellers. One of the first things to be addressed will be to fix a broken barrier which allowed the caravans to be driven onto the car park.

Councillor Freeeman said: "The council are moving all the rubbish and I have asked them to ensure the golf course is free of rubbish because they have been using it as a toilet.

"The main thing will be the cost of the barrier as well as the clean-up operation including everything on the car park and the golf course. I personally will be pushing that costs don't all fall on the council.

She added: "I know myself and the council have got to ensure this kind of thing can never happen again, not only from a public health point of view but also for the safety of the leisure users.

The first caravans arrived on Wednesday, but more turned up in the following days.

On Saturday parents bringing their children for a karate competition were forced to park on Stafford Road as the car park was nearly full of travellers.

While earlier this week school buses had to reverse right up to the entrance so pupils visiting could enter undisturbed. Safety fears were raised about gas cylinders and electronic wires among the caravans as well as an Alsation dog tied up to a lamppost.

Councillor Freeman added: "I have never ever seen a situation like this. It was just horrendous. It just escalated all week. It was like a death trap."

Inspiring Healthy lifestyles, which manages Chase Leisure Centre on behalf of the council, confirmed human waste and toilet rolls had been left on the golf course but confirmed the site had been cleaned.

Spokeswoman Alison Klabacker said: "We are now in discussions with the council to look at measures that can be put in place to ensure something like this doesn't happen again."