DESPITE only being resident on land near Crediton Tesco superstore and Redlands Primary Care - Crediton and Thorverton, the Crediton GP Practice based in Joseph Locke Way, Crediton, for just a few days, travellers who departed today, Monday, September 15 have left behind many piles of rubbish.

Smelly bags, gas cylinders, old children’s toys, cardboard boxes, carrier bags and dumpy bags of rubbish and black sacks of items are among the items left behind near the GP Practice overflow car park and on the grassed area near the superstore.

Some of the rubbish left behind near Redlands Primary Care Crediton GP Practice overflow car park. AQ 3069
Some of the rubbish left behind near Redlands Primary Care Crediton GP Practice overflow car park. AQ 3069 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Some of the rubbish left behind on the grassed areas at the back of the Crediton Tesco superstore. AQ 3064
Some of the rubbish left behind on the grassed areas at the back of the Crediton Tesco superstore. AQ 3064 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Redlands Primary Care announced that the travellers left the site this morning, adding that the surgery main doors have now re-opened.

The surgery had been operating a closed door policy since the travellers arrived at the site on land adjoining Crediton Tesco superstore and the surgery on Wednesday, September 10.

Some of the rubbish left behind on the grassed areas at the back of the Crediton Tesco superstore. AQ 3061
Some of the rubbish left behind on the grassed areas at the back of the Crediton Tesco superstore. AQ 3061 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Some of the rubbish left behind on the grassed areas at the back of the Crediton Tesco superstore. AQ 3062
Some of the rubbish left behind on the grassed areas at the back of the Crediton Tesco superstore. AQ 3062 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Their presence also resulted in the cancellation of the surgery’s open day, which was due to take place on Saturday, September 13.

It also resulted in the imposition of a card pre-payment only operation at Crediton’s Tesco store and increased security at town supermarkets.

There has been some opposition to this card pre-payment only system.

Some of the rubbish left behind on the grassed areas at the back of the Crediton Tesco superstore. AQ 3065
Some of the rubbish left behind on the grassed areas at the back of the Crediton Tesco superstore. AQ 3065 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Some of the rubbish left behind on the grassed areas at the back of the Crediton Tesco superstore. AQ 3065
Some of the rubbish left behind on the grassed areas at the back of the Crediton Tesco superstore. AQ 3065 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

The travellers, in more than eight caravans, arrived first in the town at the Active Mid Devon (Lords Meadow Leisure Centre), Crediton overflow car park on Monday, September 8 before their move to Joseph Locke Way.

Their presence there resulted in the temporary closure of the Lords Meadow Leisure Centre until Thursday, September 11.

A clean-up and removal of litter and waste took place at the overflow car park during the early morning of Thursday, September 11.

A clean-up is expected to take place at the grassed area in Joseph Locke Way but who will pay for this has not been determined.

Some of the rubbish left behind near Redlands Primary Care Crediton GP Practice overflow car park. AQ 3067
Some of the rubbish left behind near Redlands Primary Care Crediton GP Practice overflow car park. AQ 3067 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)