Westcroft Leisure Centre has been the hub of sports and exercise for many people in recent years, but recently the centre has been closed for a period of fourteen months to allow it to be refurbished and improved. However, even before the site actually closed, a group of travellers, with a large number of caravans, moved into the car park at the back of the leisure centre. They were allowed to stay for around a fortnight, but have been moved out by the council. The council were determined to move the travellers out, quickly receiving an order through court to expel them.

However, when the travellers left, behind them they had left large bags of litter among other things, including gas canisters. In the past, smaller groups of travellers have come and stayed in the car park when it was open, with little trouble in the area. But now, if they were to return again, would local residents, who are angry that they have to pay for the clean up, be more hostile towards the travellers next time, or is this more of an issue for the council? With fourteen months of re-development, was causing such a rushed exit needed, or could they have waited to see if they would have moved on themselves. I spoke to a local resident, who said that she was “angered at the travellers for being so irresponsible”. Another local resident was left “bemused” as to why the travellers would create this unnecessary trouble.

The issue now for the residents in Carshalton and Wallington is that they have been left with a large bill to pay for the clear up of the car park and the court proceedings, which has made many of the residents hostile towards the travellers who pass through the town often. If the travellers do ever return, have the council now created an issue that will erupt into anger from residents and travellers alike next time?