The clean-up at Black Patch Park in Smethwick has begun after a group of travellers were evicted earlier this week. Tonnes of rubbish including more than 300 tyres, rubble, black bags, furniture, beds and double glazed windows were left behind after the group were evicted by bailiffs. Sandwell Council bosses say the bill will run into thousands of pounds – with rubbish costing £110 a tonne to dispose of, plus the cost of cleaning the area, equipment and staff.
The council has used new powers to remove travellers from four pieces of council land in the past seven days. Groups were evicted from Haden Hill Leisure Centre, a public car park in Oldbury and Blakeley Wood Road in Tipton. An untaxed vehicle was also removed from the encampment in Tipton. Sandwell Council Leader Councillor Steve Eling said: “The bill for this clean-up is going to run into thousands of pounds. We estimate that around 50 tonnes of rubbish was fly-tipped within just days.
“We’re currently spending over £400,000 a year cleaning up after unauthorised encampments and it has to stop. We’re taking firm action to evict travellers from council land while securing sites that they may camp on. Plus we’re looking at what further action we can take regarding seizing vehicles involved in fly-tipping, confiscating untaxed vehicles and tackling the issue of vehicles moving waste without the correct licence. I’d like to thank the staff from Serco and the council who have worked quickly to get on site to start clearing this rubbish, as well as staff from departments across the council who have all been involved in what has been a busy week.”
Councillor Richard Marshall, cabinet member for leisure, added: “The amount of rubbish left behind was mind-blowing.
“The sheer scale of the rubbish and the speed it accumulated is the worst I’ve ever seen.
“It’s worth reminding everyone reading this that if you employ someone to work on your home or you pay someone to take away rubbish, you have to make sure they are disposing of the waste legally. They must have a waste carrier’s licence.
“All households and businesses are under a legal duty to dispose of waste responsibly and they can be prosecuted if they do not.”
An unauthorised encampment that set up on an industrial estate at Black Lake, West Bromwich, yesterday was evicted this morning (Thursday). Car parks, parks and other council-owned sites around Sandwell will remain secured in an attempt to prevent further trespass.
