Travellers have sparked anger again after land next to the A2 was left an eyesore after another illegal stay.

About 20 caravans left the former Esso garage site, near the Gravesend East turn-off, at the weekend after they moved on to the land on Friday, July 17, but have left behind an “appalling mess”.

It comes weeks after the Messenger revealed taxpayers had been left with a £15,000 bill to clear an illegal camp near the Cyclopark after travellers spent a week nearby last month.

Landowner Exxon Mobil said it had taken “appropriate action” to remove the group after confirming the incursion was unauthorised. According to sources, the clear-up has been estimated at £30,000.

Shorne resident Bob Lane called for the group to be punished for the mess but revealed his frustration after he reported the camp to Gravesham council, Kent County Council, police and Highways England.

Mr Lane said: “At one stage, the police even asked me who owned the land.

“This is extremely frustrating, since surely all the relevant authorities must know by now, having had to deal with exactly the same problem on exactly the same site just a month earlier. It really seems like a case of ‘pass the parcel’.

“This is typical of the attitude of the authorities in this area, including Highways England.

“In the meantime, huge piles of rubbish started to be tipped on the land.

“I immediately reported this to Gravesham council, KCC, the police, Highways England, and to the Environment Agency.

“As I said in my email to them, it is not often that the authorities are made aware of fly tipping in progress while the offenders are still on site, so this was a golden opportunity to prosecute them.

“The travellers disappeared over the weekend, leaving behind lorry-loads of rubbish. It needs to be seen to be believed.”

A Kent County Council spokesman said: “If unauthorised encampments are on private land it is primarily the landowners’ responsibility to deal with the issue. Kent County Council and Gravesham council will provide advice and help if asked to do so by the landowner.”

Just yards from the site, a number of lorries have parked alongside the A2 in breach of no stopping signs, which has caused more litter problems in the area with Mr Lane describing it as Gravesham’s own ‘Operation Stack’.

He added: “Residents in Shorne, Cobham, and Gravesend East despair at how this area is being allowed to get increasingly run down, with no one in authority seeming to care.”

Mr Lane’s call comes a week after we reported that taxpayers in Dartford face spending £10,000 to clean up the former Mabledon Hospital site in Darenth Country Park after travellers moved on to land in June.

A police spokeswoman said: “Parking on the hard shoulder is unlawful and Kent Police officers, working in partnership with Highways England, regularly move on vehicles when it is safe and appropriate to do so. Kent Police is also committed to educating motorists about the dangers associated with parking on the hard shoulder.

“The wider issue of lorry drivers having appropriate locations to stop and rest is a matter for local authorities.”