A councillor in Birmingham has urged residents not to offer any work to travellers who have set up an unauthorised encampment in a city park, just weeks after being ordered to leave another site.
Illegal Camp at Shard End Country Park
Caravans and vehicles displaying business logos entered Shard End Country Park in east Birmingham before last weekend. Councillor Alan Feeney, a Reform UK representative, visited the site and found the park gates open, suspecting they may have been cut. He has contacted West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council regarding the latest incursion.
Feeney said: "I'm aware that the travellers are back on Shard End Park. I have been out, taken a look and have found the metal gates are all open. Whether the padlocks have been cut, or the gates were open anyway, I don't know. I will be in touch with the council and police in any case. In the meantime, do not give them any work. I have already seen various business vans coming and going."
He added: "I can only assume the same mess will be left behind, so will speak to the council about stronger defences. In the long run it will certainly be cheaper than the clean-up operation."
Previous Encampments and Displacement
The latest camp follows a similar incident months earlier, when travellers were blocked from entering Sheldon Country Park. That green space has experienced multiple incursions over the years. Councillor Colin Green noted that improving security at neighbouring Gilberstone Park had "just displaced activity elsewhere" after measures were implemented to prevent unlawful access.
Green stated: "Residents of Sheldon reported to us on Saturday that travellers had set up a camp on Sheldon Country Park. They gained entrance to the park at the Horseshoes Lane entrance. There have been several camps on Gilbertstone Recreation Area recently, and the parks managers have beefed up security to keep vehicles out. Improving security at one site just displaces activity elsewhere."
Council Response
A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: "Birmingham City Council is committed to actively protecting its land and will take steps to recover this land where unauthorised encampments encroach upon it. The council has useable transit sites and plots for use by the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community - which is in line with Government policy - and details of the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment carried out and updated in 2019 can be found on our website."
