The bill for clearing up a popular sports ground after travellers set up a camp on the site has been estimated at more than £3,000.
Up to 30 caravans pitched at Colchester Rugby Club on Sunday, July 2, as part of an unauthorised encampment.
• Travellers arrive at Colchester Rugby Club• Traveller camp causes disruption at playing fieldsThe group were served with a notice to leave yesterday afternoon, and moved off the Mill Road yesterday evening.
Today Colchester Borough Council, which owns the land, has been busy clearing up the site – with two van-loads of waste removed, and two fly-tips remaining.
The authority has estimated the clear-up cost at around £2,900, with an additional £240 to repair and secure the field gate.
Another estimated £1,000 will be spent to replace the wooden gate with a metal design, and install a drop-down bollard, to bolster security at the fields.
A Colchester Borough Council spokesman said: “Our Zone Team has worked incredibly hard and responded very quickly, to clean-up the site, and all the pitches are now playable.
“The emergency access gate used by the travellers has been made secure.
“Two 3.5-tonne van-loads of rubbish have been removed today.
“Two areas of large fly-tip remain, but they are not obstructing any of the playing surfaces. Arrangements are being made to have these removed as soon as possible.
“The next games to be played will be cricket, on Saturday. There is some minor damage to the door of the Archery Club pavilion and damage to the training football goals. The Archery Club and football teams are responsible for these and are being informed.”
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