Reports of fire, significant damage and human waste strewn across football pitch near Chesterfield, blocked by travellers
A local councillor has reported significant damage has been caused to a football field near Chesterfield.
Fires, damaged gates and human waste strewn across a football pitch have raised serious concerns after a group of travellers set up an illegal encampment off Hornbeam Drive in Wingerworth over the bank holiday weekend.
A special multi-agency meeting with the land owner, Derbyshire constabulary and North East Derbyshire District Council, was held yesterday (Wednesday, September 2) to discuss the next steps, but the travellers remain on site as of today (Thursday, September 3). Another meeting is due to take place today.
Commenting on the damage caused to the football pitch, Councillor Ross Shipman said: “I’m genuinely flabbergasted that anybody could look at what has happened at the illegal encampment at The Avenue in Wingerworth and somehow think the actions taking place are acceptable or defensible, but strangely there is.
"Multiple gates have had their locks cut off, human waste has been thrown across the area, setting fires of household waste, fly tipping, and horses and vehicles have ripped up the football pitch.
"This isn’t simply a case of people occupying a piece of land. There has been significant damage caused to a community facility, and a huge amount of time, effort, public and private money will now inevitably be required to rectify the situation.
"Residents and local football teams should not have to be left to pick up the pieces from this.
"There is a further multi-agency meeting taking place at 4pm today, where I will continue to push for action alongside the various agencies involved.
“Following that meeting, I will provide a further statement and update residents on the current state of play.
"I appreciate everyone’s patience while the agencies work through the appropriate processes, but make no mistake — the impact this is having on our community cannot simply be ignored.”