Council tip trucks will no longer visit Daisy Farm Park in Highters Heath after travellers set up camp on the public space, forcing the cancellation of the scheduled waste disposal service.
The mobile waste lorries were due to park at the site off Maypole Lane on Saturday, September 6, allowing local residents to dump their rubbish for free. However, Highters Heath councillor Adam Higgs announced the visit had been pulled after a group of travellers moved onto the land.
Eviction proceedings are not due to start until Monday, September 8, leaving the park occupied for several days after the planned tip truck visit.
Councillor demands stronger action over repeated encampments
Councillor Higgs expressed frustration over the recurring situation at the park, which has seen multiple unauthorised encampments over time. He said: "Like many residents, I remain deeply frustrated with the repeated merry-go-round of repeated traveller encampments affecting Daisy Farm Park."
The councillor noted that after a long-running campaign involving himself and the Friends of Daisy Farm Park, funding has been secured for additional defences to protect the park from unauthorised encampments. He said he continues to call on the council to install these planned defences as soon as possible.
Higgs said he became aware of the latest encampment on Friday and immediately alerted the council, requesting that police be contacted to use their stronger powers to remove the travellers. He cited previous encampments and a recent fire on the park as reasons for seeking police intervention.
Police decline powers, residents voice frustration
"Unfortunately the police declined to use their powers, leaving the council to use their weaker powers to evict the travellers," Higgs said.
Mobile tip trucks are deployed across Birmingham to help residents dispose of general waste and bulky items for free, with no booking or ID required. The cancellation has disappointed locals who had planned to use the service.
One resident commented online: "Bang goes taking the rubbish on Saturday now." Another said: "Yet again the residents loose out due to the travellers… I look out of my lounge window and see caravan upon caravan we didn’t buy our house for that view."
Eviction timetable set
Eviction proceedings are scheduled to begin on Monday, September 8, according to the councillor's announcement. Until then, the park remains occupied, and the tip truck service will not operate as originally planned.
