More travellers are arriving at a new camp on King George's Playing Fields in Sutton Coldfield, putting a summer event in doubt for this weekend. The first members of the group were seen entering the site on Sutton Oak Road on Tuesday, June 16, according to local residents who claim they broke in through a padlocked main gate.
Event at risk
The playing fields were scheduled to host a midsummer event on Saturday, June 20, which may now be cancelled due to the unauthorised encampment. A local resident told BirminghamLive: 'The travellers started to arrive yesterday evening having broken in via the padlocked main gate and knocking down the notice board in the process. More are now arriving, police and the local councillor have been informed. The reference for the police report to 101 is 5316.'
The resident added: 'The last time they were there, two years ago, it took Friends of King George's Playing Field months to clear up their mess and repair the damage to the Millennium Wood, even after the City Council had spent hours clearing up most of the rubbish. Unfortunately it seems inevitable that we shall have to cancel a midsummer's event planned for this Saturday evening.'
Council response
Birmingham City Council has stated that alternative sites are available for travellers across the city. In a previous statement, the council 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 the council's website.
