A GROUP of travellers staying on a patch of land on Walney left their rubbish for council officers to deal with after being served a notice to leave.

A resident took photos of toilet cassettes, gas canisters, and the remains of a bonfire left out at Biggar Bank.

The incident happened almost a year after a similar event and a councillor said that 'a lot of thought' is being given by the local authority to come up with stronger prevention measures.

Keith Hardman took the photos and said that there were portaloos and waste bins for the travellers to use. 

The Mail: This section of ground was left scorchedThis section of ground was left scorched (Image: Submitted)

He said: "They arrived about six weeks ago. Some portaloos and green waste dustbins appeared, probably from the council. The council served notice to quit and they went leaving the mess."

Frank Cassidy, a Westmorland and Furness councillor for Walney, said: "Members of the travelling community made an illegal encampment on land to the south of Sandy Gap around the middle of June and I received a number of complaints from residents about the untidy state of the area where the visitors had settled and of dogs running free.

"Following action from our town hall public protection team – which included the serving of a Direction to Leave Land notice – the travellers have left the area.

"There was a fair amount of rubbish and garden waste lying around following their departure and this has been dealt with by council staff.

The Mail: The remains of what appears to be a bonfireThe remains of what appears to be a bonfire (Image: Submitted)

“Members of the travelling community have certain rights, but Walney residents have rights too, and a lot of thought is being given to how situations like this will be dealt with in the future.

“New measures are to include the drafting of a fresh council policy and I think some work on this is about to begin.”

A council spokesman said: "Members of the traveller community arrived on land at Biggar Bank in April.

READ MORE: Barrow Borough Council orders group of travellers in Walney to move on once again

"Public Protection Officers engaged with the travellers and carried out welfare and needs assessment as well as a comprehensive risk assessment in line with the Cumbria Joint Agency Protocol for Responding to Unauthorised Encampments.

The Mail: Gas canisters were left at the site for council officers to clear upGas canisters were left at the site for council officers to clear up (Image: Submitted)

"A Direction To Leave notice was subsequently served and the travellers have now left." 

In early April last year caravans were parked within close vicinity to each other in the area and dog kennels were set up. 

At the time a resident living nearby said: "I can tell you from experience travellers usually appear around April to mid-May." 

The 2022 incident resulted in the former Barrow borough council (BBC) threatening further legal action when the group did not comply with a direction to leave notice. 

At the time Des Barlow, a councillor for North Walney, said that a long-term solution needed to be found to stop the group of travellers moving 'from pillar to post' in the area.