Residents in Buckinghamshire, the UK's traveller hotspot, have voiced their anger over what they describe as a never-ending battle against unauthorised camps. The council was forced to spend £3,700 to remove one such site in Rye over two days in 2025, reflecting a broader trend across the county.
Rising Caravan Numbers Fuel Local Tensions
Buckinghamshire has recorded the biggest increase in the number of caravans of any county in England since 2024, according to official data. Travellers have set up unauthorised camps in car parks and fields across the area, prompting frustration among long-term residents.
Amy, a lifelong resident of High Wycombe, told the Daily Mail: "It feels like they are always coming back. They go to lots of places across Buckinghamshire. Anywhere they get into – car parks, fields, anything – they will park up."
Council Costs and Resident Complaints
The £3,700 spent on removing the Rye camp is just one example of the financial burden on local taxpayers. Residents have complained about high council tax rates being used to clear illegal encampments, with some public areas left "in a tip" after travellers depart. One local described a site on the outskirts of High Wycombe: "They left everything, from lumps of metal to broken chairs."
Reported incidents of fly-tipping on public land across the county surged from 3,293 in 2022/23 to 4,272 in 2023/24, according to council figures.
Pattern of Arrivals and Evictions
Travellers reportedly arrive on Friday evenings or before Bank Holiday weekends, making it harder for councils to launch legal action before the following working week. A lay-by near Stoke Hammond has been nicknamed "Gypsy Lane" by residents. Buckinghamshire Council spent £556 to remove a camp there in 2025, a process that took three weeks.
Steve Turner noted that groups "turn up quickly" and expand from one or two people to "20 to 30." He said they often return after eviction, driving away and then coming back.
Local Actions and Official Responses
Some residents have taken matters into their own hands. Martin Moore in Marlow erected barriers around his land to prevent traveller access. Buckinghamshire Council stated: "We take concerns raised by residents seriously and take appropriate action in line with our legal responsibilities and the circumstances of each case."
Thames Valley Police added that they remain "committed to tackling shoplifting and retail crime across the Thames Valley," noting that "retail crime will not be tolerated." Reports of shoplifting and antisocial behaviour have been linked to some traveller groups.
