Latest news with #GypsyandTravellerAccommodationAssessment
The Irish Sun
31-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Travellers took over our picturesque beauty spot with 30 caravans, dug HOLE to use as toilet & left piles of rubbish
DISGRUNTLED locals have hit out after 30 caravans pitched up at a picturesque beauty spot. Birmingham residents, who live close to popular site Billesley Common, claim travellers arrived at 8pm yesterday. Advertisement 4 Locals have slammed the arrival of caravans on Billesley Common, in Birmingham Credit: BPM 4 The group allegedly pitched up last night Credit: BPM They also slammed the caravan owners, staying opposite Birmingham Moseley Rugby Club, for allegedly digging toilet holes and littering piles of rubbish. The group allegedly cut through chains locking a barrier that prevented access to the land. Mark Brown, who lives close to Billesley Common, claimed they even set fire to an old caravan at the site. He told Advertisement Read More 'There are regular dog walkers and one said they were petrified to walk their dogs over there. They felt intimidated..' And, this is not the first time a group have situated themselves at Billesley Common. Mr Brown claimed they were also stationed there in June, and similarly left a trail of rubbish. 'They also dug a hole to use as a toilet," he alleged. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive The concerned local theorised the group may have arrived due to a fair taking place at a nearby park. This comes as several caravans also arrived at Kings Norton Park, and Swanshurst Park earlier this month. Birmingham City Council previously 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.' Advertisement But people say they're annoyed the council regularly clears away the group's rubbish with the city in the midst of a months-long bin collection strike. One resident claimed a traveller keeps trying to buy his designer French bulldog for £250. The Friends of Swanshurst Park Facebook group says the travellers gained access by moving a large log and driving in past bike racks. Mum-of-two Rabai Tahir, who lives opposite the park, moved to the UK from Dubai with her husband five years ago and is 'astonished' travellers are allowed to keep coming back. Advertisement 'They leave lots of rubbish bags and some of it stinks,' she told The Sun. 'It's cleaned up by my council tax money. "I don't allow my kids to go over to the play park when they're there. We don't know who they are. 'It's shocking for me and my husband that people can stay here for weeks. It's a community park.' Sandra Cotterill has lived opposite the park for 19 years. She said: 'I've had no trouble with them, they never bother me. Some people don't want to take their kids and dogs there." Advertisement However, she is annoyed that the local authority makes such an effort to clear the group's rubbish when thousands in the city have seen their own rubbish pile up for months. Sandra said: 'They bag up all the rubbish and the council cleans it all away. "We're paying our taxes, and we can't get our bin bags picked up, but they get theirs taken.' Sandra's neighbour, who has lived in the area for 40 years and walks her dogs in the park, said residents are getting fed up with different traveller groups constantly coming and going. Advertisement The woman, who did not want to be named, said: 'They clear them off and a week later another different group comes here. "I keep away from them, they take over the park really. We're all just fed up. 'Travellers move the logs. We need a permanent solution to stop them coming onto the park. "The amount of money the council must spend tidying up is ridiculous.' Advertisement 4 Residents claim the caravan owners leave a trail of litter behind them Credit: BPM 4 One local claimed the group may have cut through chains to access the land Credit: BPM
Scottish Sun
31-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Travellers took over our picturesque beauty spot with 30 caravans, dug HOLE to use as toilet & left piles of rubbish
The group allegedly cut through chains locking a barrier that prevented access to the land CARAVAN FURY Travellers took over our picturesque beauty spot with 30 caravans, dug HOLE to use as toilet & left piles of rubbish Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DISGRUNTLED locals have hit out after 30 caravans pitched up at a picturesque beauty spot. Birmingham residents, who live close to popular site Billesley Common, claim travellers arrived at 8pm yesterday. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Locals have slammed the arrival of caravans on Billesley Common, in Birmingham Credit: BPM 4 The group allegedly pitched up last night Credit: BPM They also slammed the caravan owners, staying opposite Birmingham Moseley Rugby Club, for allegedly digging toilet holes and littering piles of rubbish. The group allegedly cut through chains locking a barrier that prevented access to the land. Mark Brown, who lives close to Billesley Common, claimed they even set fire to an old caravan at the site. He told BirminghamLive: 'Last time they left a lot of rubbish. At the common there's a woodland area for wildlife and a pond and that had rubbish and nappies in it. 'There are regular dog walkers and one said they were petrified to walk their dogs over there. They felt intimidated..' And, this is not the first time a group have situated themselves at Billesley Common. Mr Brown claimed they were also stationed there in June, and similarly left a trail of rubbish. 'They also dug a hole to use as a toilet," he alleged. The concerned local theorised the group may have arrived due to a fair taking place at a nearby park. This comes as several caravans also arrived at Kings Norton Park, and Swanshurst Park earlier this month. Birmingham City Council previously 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.' But people say they're annoyed the council regularly clears away the group's rubbish with the city in the midst of a months-long bin collection strike. One resident claimed a traveller keeps trying to buy his designer French bulldog for £250. The Friends of Swanshurst Park Facebook group says the travellers gained access by moving a large log and driving in past bike racks. Mum-of-two Rabai Tahir, who lives opposite the park, moved to the UK from Dubai with her husband five years ago and is 'astonished' travellers are allowed to keep coming back. 'They leave lots of rubbish bags and some of it stinks,' she told The Sun. 'It's cleaned up by my council tax money. "I don't allow my kids to go over to the play park when they're there. We don't know who they are. 'It's shocking for me and my husband that people can stay here for weeks. It's a community park.' Sandra Cotterill has lived opposite the park for 19 years. She said: 'I've had no trouble with them, they never bother me. Some people don't want to take their kids and dogs there." However, she is annoyed that the local authority makes such an effort to clear the group's rubbish when thousands in the city have seen their own rubbish pile up for months. Sandra said: 'They bag up all the rubbish and the council cleans it all away. "We're paying our taxes, and we can't get our bin bags picked up, but they get theirs taken.' Sandra's neighbour, who has lived in the area for 40 years and walks her dogs in the park, said residents are getting fed up with different traveller groups constantly coming and going. The woman, who did not want to be named, said: 'They clear them off and a week later another different group comes here. "I keep away from them, they take over the park really. We're all just fed up. 'Travellers move the logs. We need a permanent solution to stop them coming onto the park. "The amount of money the council must spend tidying up is ridiculous.' 4 Residents claim the caravan owners leave a trail of litter behind them Credit: BPM
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Travellers move back on to popular family park 24 hours after clean-up
Travellers have moved back onto a popular family park just a day after a clean-up was completed. A small group of caravans set up camp on Swanshurst Park, on the outskirts of Moseley and Billesley, on Sunday (June 1). Their arrival came just 24 hours after members of a volunteer group dedicated to maintaining the park finished picking up rubbish after the last group left. READ MORE: Man glassed and woman punched in face in city centre attack as footage goes viral READ MORE: The posh Midlands town where house prices are falling Read More: Travellers move back onto family park for third time in weeks The Friends of Swanshurst Park spent two days tidying up and amassed an estimated 30 bags full of trash which was taken by a council bin lorry. The latest group is situated by Billesley Fire Station off Brook Lane. Get the latest BirminghamLive news direct to your inbox When asked if the council would be putting in measures to prevent incursions, they said: "birmingham-city-council>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." Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to join This is the fourth traveller incursion in the park since April leaving locals frustrated. There are constant calls to beef up barriers with logs and other measures to prevent access. Mary Hart said last month on Facebook: "There have been three lots of travellers this year on Swanshurst. "Each time a different group. Last time there were two groups at the same time. "The clean-up is mostly done by volunteers with help from the council."
Daily Mail
28-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Travellers pitch up caravans in Birmingham parks near playground and school as council battle against illegal encampments continues
Travellers have descended on two Birmingham park's over the weekend. Around 17 caravans and other vehicles have parked up at Parkdale Park, just off Longbridge Lane in West Heath, near Longbridge. The temporary camp surrounds a basketball court and is yards from Albert Bradbeer Primary School. Neighbours said the group arrived at the end of the Easter holidays. The convoy was not as big as last year when travellers were pictured at the same site last June. Up to 30 caravans and vehicles were spotted at the park for a number of days. Another group of travellers have also set up a camp in one of the city's best-loved parks. Around a dozen caravans and cars were on fields near the play area at the historic Kings Heath Park. The park, which covers 35 acres, features a house dating back to 1832, conservatory and a refurbished pool area as well as a tea room, bowling green, plant nursery and two playgrounds. The large convoy of vehicles was said to have driven onto the land over the weekend. The council said there were alternative sites for travellers in the city. A spokesman 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. 'Details of the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment carried out and updated in 2019 can be found on our website.' Last month, dozens of vehicles and trailers parked-up on playing fields at nearby Swanshurst Park, in Birmingham just weeks after their last visit - prompting a local group to warn people to stay away. Friends of Swanshurst Park, a volunteer group with an interest in caring and advocating for the park, often tend to a wildflower meadow in the area. It said after the vehicles turned up at the end of March: 'We think it best if members of the public do not put themselves in a position in which they feel uncomfortable by working on the wildflower patch while the travellers are in close proximity. 'The notice will be served as soon as possible for them to leave but realistically, they will not be gone before the end of the week.' The travellers also occupied the park in May and October last year forcing the council to step in again to remove them. The council said it would liaise with communities and businesses who may be impacted by plans to introduce up to 15 temporary sites for travellers. A pilot programme, set to begin in the summer, could see 'negotiated stopping' sites made available and would involve unused pieces of land. They typically provide hard standing for holding caravans, a secure boundary and basic sanitary provision, while some also provide electricity. But due to factors such as repeated vandalism and unauthorised encampments, the council's two operational transit sites have often been closed. This comes as the number of 'illegal' traveller sites being set up across the UK is on the rise with local councils increasingly unable to remove them, a planning enforcement officer has claimed. New planning policy announced by Labour housing secretary Angela Rayner in December will force councils to release green belt land for travellers to create permanent encampments if there is an 'unmet need'.
