Stratford's mayor cleans up play park after travellers leave mess
THE mayor of Stratford, Cllr Gill Cleeve, cleaned up human faeces and toilet paper left by travellers at Cottage Lane playing fields, Shottery, after they occupied the site.
Cllr Cleeve told the Herald she was messaged by a resident on Monday (15th August) and informed there was still human waste and rubbish on the children’s play area.
She added: “I thought, I’m going to go down there to clean it up myself.”
Grateful residents were quick to message Cllr Cleeve and express their gratitude for her actions, which were described by one as “beyond the call of duty”.
However, Cllr Cleeve said she was just helping the community in which she lives.
“I was doing it as ward councillor because a councillor is part of the community and I feel responsibility to the community,” she explained.
The travellers moved onto the Stratford District Council-owned site on Sunday, 31st July. There were around ten caravans and tents, as well as vehicles which remained on the football pitch for a week.
After the travellers moved off on Sunday, 7th August, district council staff were sent to clean up the area.
However, residents were concerned there was still waste and debris lying around and in hedges that needed cleaning up including, toilet paper, sanitary pads and human excrement.
“There was lots of toilet paper and sanitary items thrown in the hedgerows plus human poo in the play park and I picked it up with a litter picker just like I would do after my dog because it’s the summer holidays and children need to go and play there,” said Cllr Cleeve. “I put the mess in bin bags.
“With the new [123+] bin system and the staff shortage at Biffa they are stretched but I’m just grateful for Graham and Tom – I don’t know their surnames – from Biffa who came and took it all away. Now we need good rainfall.”
She added: “All I can do is apologise to the community for this mess but I did the clean-up as part of the community and not because I’m mayor.”
Stratford District Council gave notice for the travellers to leave and then, after they failed to move, applied for a court order but the travellers moved on before bailiffs were called to clear the land.
