Anger as ‘disrespectful’ travellers leave rubbish strewn across field
VISITORS to Highfields Park say they are appalled by the amount of rubbish left behind by travellers who set up camp nearby.
More than 20 caravans pitched up on a field owned by the University of Nottingham next to Highfields Park on Tuesday.
They left on Wednesday after the university served them with an eviction notice. Later that day, travellers’ caravans appeared at Nottingham’s Victoria Embankment.
Pictures taken yesterday show the scale of mess left behind after the travellers’ departure, with bin bags and litter spread out across the playing field next to the university’s West Entrance, part of the University Park campus.
Park visitors and local residents voiced their anger over the mess and general nuisance caused by travellers.
Many condemned the “disrespectful behaviour”, saying that “enough is enough”.
Tony Taylor, a primary school teacher in Sandiacre, 40, said: “It is just terrible.
“It is not fair to the residents or people who enjoy coming here. People really enjoy coming here it is a lovely place.”
He added: “This is a stunning park so it is such a shame that we get to see it like that. It is disrespectful - this is not normal behaviour.”
Earlier this week, travellers defended their lifestyle, saying they have “nowhere to go” and asked people to be more “understanding”.
But Mr Taylor added: “It has to work both ways. It is not about labelling an ethnic group, it is about the damage and mess they cause - it is disrespectful. We have this stunning place for everyone to enjoy and now it is ruined.”
Marcela Tarantini, who works for the NHS, echoed those concerns.
She said: “I do not think this site should be used for that – it is illegal. If they use it for a bit, make sure to take your rubbish with you.
“This is a university park and during their stay students could not use it.”
The 27-year-old from Beeston added: “It is such a lovely place during the summer so it is a shame that it has been occupied for so long. I am not happy about the rubbish they have left.”
A Beeston resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the travellers should be protected and given a piece of land in Nottingham.
He added: “Yes, they left rubbish on the site but I do not know if it is more or less than what other people throw on the streets daily.
“They need a place to stay and they should be offered that. I think they are being targeted and everything that happens in the city on their arrival is put on them. The same can be said about the Serenity Garden - we do not know if they did it and even if they did I do not think they were aware of its meaning.”