OCCUPANTS of an unauthorised ‘travellers’ encampment at Weybourne Recreation Ground in Farnham have left the site unrecognisable after using it as a dumping ground and costing the council £5,000 to clear up.

Following a court order by Waverley Borough Council the encampment, which consisted of 27 caravans, left at approximately 6.30pm on Saturday, August 6, leaving illegally dumped waste.

The council began a clean up of the waste which included fly-tipped waste from garden and household clearance early on Monday morning. It is expected to cost tax payers £5,000 to clear up. Waverley has now ensured security at the site has been increased.

The land which is frequently used by Badshot Lea Football Club was littered with everything from kitchen appliances to human excrement and nappies.

The club’s secretary, Nicky Staszkiewicz, said: “I went over on Sunday morning and I was in tears, I have never seen something like it before.

“They have destroyed the land, I feel really sad about it all. Everything was just scattered everywhere but luckily we haven’t lost anything of true value.

“They attempted to break into the clubhouse from the back and the front, they didn’t even cut through the big padlocks they just went straight to smashing the glass and the doors.

“There was equipment scattered everywhere, luckily we had removed everything expensive prior because we were worried that it would be broken into.

“I called the police who came up but they couldn’t prosecute anyone, it was my word against theirs and there wasn’t any evidence to prove it was them.”

Nicky highlights that Waverley Borough Council have been very helpful during the process, however the caravans have now moved over to Farnborough Hill School.

Glendale Waverley who manage and maintain parks, recreation grounds and sports pitches within Farnham have been assigned to the recreation ground to restore it back to normality.

It has stationed a trailer at the entrance of the ground to further protect it while it awaits a replacement gate. – however Glendale has informed Nicky that someone has attempted to move the trailer, sparking fears that the ‘travellers’ have plans of moving back in.

Nicky added: “My worry is that they are trying to come back. I do have sympathy for these people if they just come and go but when they cause all of this mess and don’t bother cleaning it up, I lose that sympathy. They have destroyed the land. I feel really sad about it all.

“But in light of this everyone from the club has stepped up to the mark and got involved with the cleaning.”

A spokesperson for Waverley Borough Council, said: “The council encourages residents to be cautious about giving their garden or household waste to cold callers offering a cheap deal to remove it. It could end up being illegally fly-tipped at one of Waverley’s parks, like Weybourne Recreation Ground, and residents could face a considerable fine or court action.”

To check that someone is licensed as a waste carrier visit www.wastecarriersreg

istration.service.gov.uk/registrations/search.