Anger at litter and sewage left as travellers move on

For two weeks, the travellers had been parked at the complex, known as Billingham House, on Cowpen Lane.

After leaving the site earlier this week they left behind mounds of rubbish, sewage and litter.

One resident, who lives in nearby Central Avenue, said: "It is shocking the mess they have left behind.

"I do not know how they get away with not tidying anything up. The site looked unsightly before but it is a lot worse now. We had heard rumours that a call centre was to be built there but who will want to develop a site looking like that.

"It does not do the reputation of the area any good, and God knows how much it is going to cost council tax payers to get rid of it."

The travellers have since moved on to a site near Haverton Hill after facing eviction from Billingham House.

Hughie Smith, president of the National Gypsy Council, said: "We have asked local authorities to provide skips and rubbish bags for gypsies but they say it would be condoning them to trespass on the land.

"These travellers cannot take their rubbish with them and local authorities will not allow them to take their rubbish to the council tips, so when they are evicted it is left behind.

"It would be much better if these travellers were provided with short-stay sites where they wouldn't leave rubbish and upset local people."

A spokeswoman from Stockton Borough Council said: "The issue of unauthorised travelling encampments is an issue which affects the whole country.

"The council has considered this and the implications of such at its cabinet meeting in November last year, and we have in place necessary procedures for this type of incident. The travellers were on private land. When we are faced with this situation of fly-tipping or a culmination of waste or rubbish, we will clear it.

"However, on any occasion where the area concerned is in private ownership the costs to clear it will fall upon the site owner."