A group of travellers who established an unauthorised encampment at a popular Birmingham park have been issued with a formal order to leave the site.
Encampment at Park Entrance
The incident began on Sunday, December 14, when a convoy of caravans entered the car park at Daisy Farm Park, near Maypole. The vehicles occupied a significant number of parking spaces at the entrance to the family-friendly green space.
Local councillor Adam Higgs confirmed that an eviction notice has now been served on the group. He stated they have been given a deadline and must vacate the area by Sunday, December 22.
History of Repeated Incursions
This is not an isolated event for the park, which has experienced multiple unauthorised traveller encampments throughout this year. The recurring problem has caused considerable frustration and concern within the local community, leading to calls for more robust measures to protect the public land.
Councillor Higgs echoed the residents' feelings, saying: "I share the frustration with residents with the repeated encampments we have seen on the park this year." He added that from attending numerous clean-up operations after previous departures, he had been "saddened by what we have found and had to clear."
Calls for Better Defences and Legal Review
The councillor emphasised that protecting the park from unauthorised encampments is a issue he has campaigned on for years. He vowed to continue his efforts until the situation shows tangible improvement.
His ongoing campaign focuses on several key actions:
- Advocating for better physical defences for the park.
- Supporting the local Friends group in seeking alternative funding pots that could be used for protective measures.
- Requesting that the local MP raise the issue of unauthorised encampments with the relevant government minister, in the hope of a review of current laws.
Councillor Higgs also made clear his frustration with the perceived slow progress of Birmingham City Council in dealing with such encampments across the city as a whole.
A spokesperson for Birmingham City Council previously stated: "The council is committed to actively protecting its land and will take steps to recover this land where unauthorised encampments encroach upon it."
The situation at Daisy Farm Park highlights the ongoing tension between traveller communities seeking stopping places and local authorities tasked with managing public land, a challenge faced by many councils across the UK.
