RESIDENTS have reacted angrily after a group of travellers left piles of rubbish next to a children’s playground in Burnley.

The travellers moved on from land off Harold Avenue at the end of last week and left behind a large quantity of rubbish, including black bin bags, large gas cylinders and building waste.

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People living nearby took to Facebook to share pictures of the mess, and many voiced their concerns about a permanent traveller site, which may be created under Burnley's Local Plan.

David Walsh said: “Disgusting mess left by the traveller's just off Harold Street, remember this is just next to a kids' playground.

“It just shows what will happen if the council allows a permanent site. It must not be allowed to happen.”

And Sarah Ellen said: “The council will come and clean up after them and bill us Burnley people for the privilege.”

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Rosegrove and Lowerhouse councillor Bea Foster reassured residents that no decisions have yet been made about a permanent site. She said: “Unfortunately the procedure for moving travellers on has got to be within the law, and takes time.

“During that time travellers are issued with bin bags to keep the site tidy.

“I’m really concerned that the travellers have left the site in a mess, but we as a borough do all we possibly can to ensure that the site is left in a reasonable way and clean it up as quickly as possible.

“No decisions whatsoever have been made with regards to the proposed travellers site. Nothing is done and dusted. The council has asked our MP to seek confirmation from the government that we do not need to have a travellers site in our local plan.”

Yesterday an officer from Burnley Council’s Streetscene team said: “We do share the frustration of local residents about the rubbish that was left on site.

“We are dealing with this as speedily as possible, and have already used a trailer and a skip to clear rubbish today to make sure the site gets back to normal."