04-05-2025
EXCLUSIVE Fury as locals are forced to cancel their VE Day celebrations after travellers pitch up their caravans on village green
A tiny community has had to cancel its VE Day celebrations for 'health and safety' reasons after travellers pitched up on its village green.
Stowupland Parish Council had been organising the lighting of a beacon to mark the 80th anniversary of the occasion.
But the plans were scuppered after four caravans parked on the land in the heart of the community.
Some locals were angry that councillors had capitulated to the travellers but a source said their hands were tied by health and safety regulations.
'We have to set a cordon up and we couldn't do that with the travellers there. They're only 15-20ft away,' the insider said, adding they 'didn't want confrontation'.
The pretty village, which is set in the heart of Suffolk and has a population of around 2,500, has won several Best Kept Village awards
The beacon has been a central feature of the community for several years and has been used to mark national occasions including the late Queen's platinum jubilee in 2022, King Charles' coronation the following year and the D-Day anniversary last year.
Scores of locals were expected at the lighting of the beacon for VE Day on Thursday this week but the plans were thrown into disarray with the arrival of the travellers last Wednesday.
The parish council posted a notice on its Facebook page two days later which stated: 'Due to circumstances on our green, we have had to cancel the lighting of the beacon next week.'
Those who complained included Shaun Langford, who wrote: 'Just think about what you have done, you have cancelled a celebration of military victory, a victory that cost thousands of British and Empire lives.
'Stowupland Parish Council has cowardly cancelled this celebration and commemoration because of four caravans.'
Emily Iona, who lives nearby, added: 'VE Day celebrations mean a great deal to a lot of people who had family or friends serve in World War II and it's their right to celebrate this with the local community.
'To cancel it because we have had travellers arrive seems a very sad choice indeed… should we stop celebrating just because there's one small 'potential' issue? It seems counter-productive to me.'
Another frustrated local branded the travellers 'the untouchables'.
In a notice, the council added: 'A decision was made yesterday not to light the beacon for VE Day due to an unauthorised encampment of travellers on the village green close to the beacon.
'We need to consider the health and safety of all concerned.
'We hope to organise an event celebrating VJ Day on the anniversary of August 15, 2025, at which we can also celebrate VE Day.'
Village pub The Retreat also posted a notice online saying it would not open until 4pm 'due to the same circumstances', adding: 'Our sincere apologies to any lunches booked.'
Parish council chairman Donna Bridges today confirmed the travellers hadn't moved on and told the Mail: 'We've gone through the proper procedures.'
Clerk Rachel Belcher-Nairn added: 'The parish council are aware of the arrival of caravans to the village green and have notified the relevant authorities.
'Steps are being taken, in conjunction with various partners, to instigate a legal process.'
Travellers previously camped on the village green in 2003 and moved after they were threatened with legal action.
