I TOTALLY agree with the writer of the letter headed 'Why do we have to put up with them?' (Dear Star, August 19).

These travellers/gipsies move about from place to place in the St Helens area, leaving behind their rubbish and leaving the area in a disgusting state and a health risk to local people.

Why can't the council go to the travellers/gipsies who are in these areas illegally and get the cost from them to clean up the area once they have moved on and, if necessary, take the bailiffs to get goods to the value for the cost of cleaning the area?

If any residents don't pay their council taxes, the bailiffs are sent in to recover goods to the cost.

As they move from place to place, how do these travellers/gypsies get the tax and insurance for their vehicles and driving licences? You need a permanent address to get these legal documents. So why aren't the police doing something about this?

If residents of St Helens don't have these documents and are stopped by the police, they are charged, sent to court and fined.

Why aren't the council working for the residents of St Helens instead of spending our council taxes cleaning up after these travellers/gipsies who do not pay anything towards the taxes in the St Helens area?

Angry resident (name and address supplied).

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