THE travellers who set themselves up in the car park of the former Barry Waitrose store have departed - leaving a trail of rubbish behind.

Last week the Barry & District News reported that a four-strong contingent of vehicles had based themselves outside the store off Palmerston Road, which has been closed since last month, on Monday, July 8.

But sometime between 12.30pm and 6.30pm on Friday, July 12 the party had moved on.

The Barry Waitrose store closed on Sunday, June 9 this year.

The Vale council cabinet member for housing and building services, Cllr Margaret Wilkinson had said the council was aware that travellers had entered the car park at the former Waitrose site.

She added that a “welfare assessment” had been undertaken.

A Vale council spokesman this week said: “This land is privately owned so responsibility for cleaning it lies with the landowner.”

The site has been acquired by Anlo Properties LLP and the new owners have submitted a planning application to the Vale of Glamorgan Council ahead of plans to split the building into two new stores. Home Bargains and The Food Warehouse (Iceland) have been confirmed as the next retail occupants.

The stores are expected to open, subject to approval, in 2020.

Residents living nearby had expressed concerns that Palmerston Primary School pupils had had to change the start point of their daily walk - which begins at the former Waitrose site.

They also raised concerns about the state of the site and whether it would be secured in future to prevent further occupation.

An Anlo Properties LLP spokesman said he had again visited the site on Tuesday, July 24 and had noted the refuse problem in front of the store and in the service area.

He said: “My client has alerted Waitrose to the travellers that were on the site and has raised issues about security.”

He said he hoped the refuse would be removed as soon as possible and with the applications to re-configure the site discussions could be held to discuss the landscape for the benefit of the community.”

The site is currently being used by driving instructors and their clients.