Express & Star

Clean-up bill hits £16k after travellers dump rubbish in Black Patch Park

The clean-up of Black Patch Park in Smethwick has already cost taxpayers £16,000 after travellers left a mountain of rubbish, council leaders have revealed.

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A total of 55 tons of waste ranging from hundreds of tyres, to gas canisters and mattresses was dumped at the site before travellers were evicted last on Monday February 13.

Sandwell Council estimated the clean-up would cost at least £5,500 before it began, but that figure has now risen.

Councillor Richard Marshall, cabinet member for leisure, said: "We have spent £16,000 so far on the clean-up, but that is not even the final cost.

"We have not got the figures of the landfill fees. We have had to take the rubbish to landfill because the waste was so mixed."

Two diggers and eight containers were used to haul off the waste. Among the rubbish pile was 330 tyres.

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