Lorryloads of commercial waste has started being dumped on the Holloway Prison site after travellers broke in last night.

Islington Gazette: Earlier this year the Bush industrial estate off Holloway Road was completely covered in commercial waste.Earlier this year the Bush industrial estate off Holloway Road was completely covered in commercial waste. (Image: Archant)

Neighbours say four vehicles parked up in a private road leading to the prison from Parkhurst Road at 10.30pm. Police were swiftly on the scene but the travellers were not moved on.

This morning lorries began dumping waste in the car park that runs alongside the former women’s prison, and now up to 20 traveller vehicles are parked up.

One neighbour said: “There’s an unbelievable amount of rubbish and it doesn’t look like they are planning to leave anytime soon.

“They also have a dog that barks all day and night, which is annoying people more than the rubbish.”

Another neighbour added: “They have broken the chains for the car park and been making a nuisance. They are fly-tipping and have dogs running around chasing the people walking through.”

The neighbour also claimed the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) had not installed CCTV after closing the prison last summer.

And they will be hoping the authorities deal with the fly-tipping swiftly, particularly given that an industrial estate in Upper Holloway was completely filled with potentially toxic commercial waste in March after travellers broke in.

The dumping comes after the Gazette this week revealed the Anaconda Swimming Club are campaigning for a competition-sized swimming pool on the land.

Islington Council bosses are consulting on draft plans for the future of the plot, with much-needed social housing at the forefront of their thinking.

A prison service spokeswoman said: “A group of individuals are illegally camping on prison land at HMP Holloway.

“The police have attended and we are closely monitoring the situation, including whether legal action is required to recover possession of the site.”

In a statement, Islington Council said it had asked the Ministry of Justice to remove the camp “urgently”.

“Council officers have visited the site and will take what action they can to deal with nuisance from the occupation, in conjunction with the MoJ and Metropolitan Police,” it added.

Ant-social behaviour can be reported to the council online or by calling 020 7527 7272.