SHAMELESS travellers have been caught charging the public £30 to dump rubbish at a park they illegally set up camp in.

The flagrant cash grab was only uncovered when residents noticed piles of rubbish, including a sofa, bin bags and cans, build up at Rushley Park in Basildon.

Security guards enlisted by the council were stunned to be met with a number of people trying to dump their rubbish at the Essex spot, normally popular with dog walkers.

The council has now placed a one-tonne concret block at the gate to prevent further trespassing and dumping, having been forced to fork out about £5,000 for the clean up.

Councillor Kevin Blake said: "Lo and behold the security guards had loads of people turn up who wanted to dump their rubbish throughout the day.

"The guards turned them away and took their registration numbers.

"Because the remaining travellers couldn't get an income they left soon afterwards.

"It must have cost us £500 for the security guards, but it has saved us money in the long term."

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Rubbish had piled up at the site, with it appearing almost impossible for the group of 12 travellers to have created it themselves.

Mr Blake said security at the park had set up on Thursday, staying on throughout Friday as they were so successful.

Mr Blake said action would be taken to stop the travellers returning.

He said: "We are looking to put up bollards to stop them from getting in. It will be a pain for us because we also need to get access to the site to cut the grass.

"It will be a one-tonne bollard so it will be hard for them to move.

"We will have to pay for specialist equipment to move it when we need it."

Maybe the council should name and shame the people throwing away the rubbish too as they're partly responsible for this horrible mess

A small group of travellers has remained at the site.

One retired dog walker fumed: "No-one has any faith in the police or council to stop this kind of thing happening.

"We are seeing it more and more, especially in the summer months.

"The travellers will keep on doing it as they never end up in court and until they do, they know they've got carte blanche to carry on.

"It's a shame as they've ruined a lovely park for everyone else.

"Why on earth do people pay for travellers to take away their waste though? You are not telling me they don't know where it could end up.

"Maybe the council should name and shame the people throwing away the rubbish too as they're partly responsible for this horrible mess."

An Essex Police spokesman confirmed the travellers had been moved on following complaints from members of the public and representatives of Basildon Council, but that no arrests had been made.

He confirmed that there were a total of nine caravans on the site before they moved on.

A Basildon Council spokesman said: "Work to clear the fly-tipping started on Thursday last week. We had to hire a grab lorry to remove it.

"We welcome any evidence which will lead us to identify and prosecute the perpetrators and will continue to work to ensure those who fly-tip are held to account.

"If an individual offers to clear waste from you and their price seems too good to be true, it is because it usually is, and the items will likely be flytipped.

"Please only use registered waste carriers and ask for proof of where the waste is going.”

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