WITH reference to the travellers claiming ‘we’re British citizens and we want respect’ following their visit to our community centre in Meadowhead, Blackburn.

No concern whatsoever was shown by their community to residents.

Witnesses were disgusted as the travellers openly unrinated, threw their waste on the site and badly damaged a prepared football pitch for our community, so that a weekend youth competition had to be cancelled.

Traveller Christy Leah makes the sweeping generalisation that ‘people are so uneducated’.

These ‘people’ who work hard, take a pride in their surroundings and pay taxes don’t expect to witness such outrageous scenes on their doorstep.

I spoke to some of the travellers who stated they are Christians.

What respect did they show the youngsters who had been looking forward to the football tournament?

What respect was shown when the area was used as a toilet? Is this, indeed Christian behaviour?

The council not only provided a free skip for these people but are now left with the financial burden of repairing a totally vandalised area.

In reply to the accusation that local communities ‘go mad’. The incidents (and there are countless others) already mentioned may explain why locals react the way they do.

Coun Konrad Tapp, Meadowhead Ward