Anger over rubbish as travellers quit Shropshire site

A family lived near the services at the M54's junction 4 near Shifnal for nearly three weeks before moving off on Sunday. However Dusty Dovaston, spokesman for Rural Watch, which is part of the area's Neighbourhood Watch scheme, said residents were angry that the site had been left in a mess.

He asked who would foot the clean-up bill.

Mr Dovaston said among the rubbish was carpeting, bags of full of litter and large plastic containers.

Human excrement had also been dumped under a hedge while the site was littered in dog mess, he added.

Mr Dovaston, from Shifnal, said he would now bring the situation to the attention of the Shifnal and Sheriffhales Local Joint Comm- ittee at their next meeting.

However a spokesman for Shropshire Council said the gipsy liaison officer had worked with the travellers and it had been agreed that they would bag their rubbish up for collection.

Mr Dovaston, who has run the local Neighbourhood Watch for 25 years, said: "The mess they have left is atrocious. They have virtually destroyed that area. They have been to Shifnal before and they have made a mess before.

"When on land in Shifnal, they bag up a lot of the rubbish, then dump it on the other side of the road for collection. This is fly-tipping, but are they ever prosecuted? No."

A spokesman for Shropshire Council said: "The travellers have now moved on. As agreed with the council's gipsy liaison officer, they left most of their rubbish in refuse sacks, and in three small piles.

"This will be collected by the council's street scene team as part of their rounds, at no additional cost."