THOUSANDS of pounds have been spent cleaning up a travellers’ site – and action is being taken to tackle a spate of fires.

Blackburn with Darwen Council says there are problems with ‘some individuals’ on the official Ewood travellers’ site – but that this is no different to issues on many other streets in the borough.

Fires on the site have all been caught on CCTV and the council says action is now being taken.

The site has caused concern among some local residents. But the issues have only come to light following a reply to an official complaint to ward councillor Maureen Bateson and Blackburn MP Kate Hollern.

In the email, seen by the Lancashire Telegraph, the complainant said: “The area surrounding Ewood traveller site is becoming more and more unkempt.

“I have noticed a massive deterioration over the last 12 months.

“The whole site and surrounding area is an absolute disgrace and a blot on the landscape.

“The council should be ashamed about the lack of enforcement taken.

“Today while driving past I noted two separate fires either side of the site, four dogs one of which looked malnourished roaming free, and eight chickens running around.

“As I returned from my journey, a rat was running around. This was hardly surprising considering the amount if waste dumped nearby.”

Replying to the email, Cllr Bateson said: “We have spent thousands of pounds cleaning the car park areas up on numerous occasions.

“There is current monitoring of the site. We have had a spate of fires lately which is unacceptable. These have all been captured on CCTV and action is being taken.

“It is not true we are ignoring the problem and any incident we are aware of is reported and dealt with in an appropriate way.

“I admit we have problems on the site with some individuals, as we do similarly on many streets within the borough.

“I would point out however not all the rubbish on the surrounding area is put there by the residents of the site.”

Mrs Hollern has taken the complainant’s concerns with the council.