Express & Star

Watch: Traveller caravans arrive in West Bromwich as Walsall residents complain of litter

Residents in two Black Country towns have complained of mess, noise and having their green areas "taken over" by groups of travellers in caravans this week.

Plus
Published
Last updated
The travellers had then moved to Charlemont Playing Fields in West Bromwich

The residents on Cherry Tree Avenue in Yew Tree, Walsall; and Beaconside Road in Charlemont Farm, West Bromwich, have seen the green areas near them become home to caravans after travellers moved into the area.

More than 50 caravans were believed to have set up on Delves Common in Yew Tree on Sunday night, with tyre marks clearly visible on the grass verges next to Cherry Tree Avenue, and were seen on the site until Tuesday night.

West Midlands Police confirmed on Tuesday that the travellers had been served with notice to leave that evening, otherwise enforcement action would be taken.

Tyre tracks were visible from where the caravans had driven

A local woman, who asked not to be named, confirmed that the caravans had begun disappearing off the common around 6pm, with the last one leaving about two hours later.

She said: "I saw them leaving rubbish on the field and hearing angry shouting in at least one of the caravans, plus some of them were going into the bushes and using it as a toilet.

"I was absolutely devastated when I saw them on the field and what really annoyed me was that my grandson has an electric quad bike that police told him he can't use on there, but they seemed to just let the travellers onto the field.

"It's all the mess they've left behind, and I want to know who's going to clean that up afterwards."

Other residents commented on the noise coming from the caravans and the travellers, with two residents saying that there were lights flashing and generators running "all night". They also complained that no-one in the local area could access the field.

Bags of rubbish were left on the site at Delves Common