'Earth mound' to stop travellers parking on Stafford field
An 'earth mound' will be built on the entrance to a field and children's play park in Stafford to stop 'unruly' travellers threatening residents.
Councillor Jonathan Price said the Holmcroft Road fields have attracted travellers for years.
Stafford Borough Council has had to fork out to use enforcement action to remove them.
He said: "We have travellers mainly throughout the summer months, year in year out.
"Each time the council has to use enforcement action it costs a small fortune and it's different every time.
"Some travellers don't cause any bother, but the types of traveller that seems to be attracted to this field are threatening local businesses, children, adults, dog walkers, and are just generally unruly.
"They also leave a mess behind, and even use the hedgerows as toilets.
"We have to go and clean up afterwards as it's just horrendous.
"Last year was particularly bad, we probably had four of five incursions. It's happening more and more frequently."
Work on the earth mound, which was jointly funded by Staffordshire County Council and Stafford Borough Council, will begin later this month.
Councillor Price added: "We're having an earth mound put around the field and there will be grass on it, it will be too big for the caravans to get over it.
"We need to make sure our green spaces are safe and secure to use without feeling threatened by travellers and we need to make sure it's secure. Illegal camps cannot be set up on it."
