Numerous Acocks Green residents have been in touch with me, the other Acocks Green councillors and the police over recent weeks about a group of travellers, who have camped at a number of locations across Acocks Green. Taking advantage of the ‘7 day rule’ (which requires 7 days notice being given to force travellers to move on) they have, at various times, stayed in the car park of the old Britannia pub on the Warwick Road, Curtis Gardens on Fox Hollies Road, land by the Fitness Suite at Fox Hollies Leisure Centre, as well as other locations nearby Acocks Green. On Monday evening (16th August) they moved into Broomhall Playing Fields off Edenbridge Road.

Residents living nearby have complained about the noise, litter and other forms of mess left after they leave, damage caused to the grounds and more general fears about what the travellers may get up to when they are in their area.

The latest situation is that the travellers have been issued with the 7 day notice to move off Broomhall Playing Fields and eviction should take place next Monday or Tuesday – if they havent moved off of their own accord by then. The police are keeping a very close eye on the situation, with officers attending regularly throughout the day, every day they remain. The police also plan to advise the travellers today of the option of moving to an official site (though they anticipate they won’t agree to this) and will keep local residents informed on a regular basis.

While I have no problem with people who want to adopt a travelling lifestyle, the actions of this particular group are clearly causing signficant distress to local residents, damage to public open space and are tying up a large amount of police time that could be used more productively elsewhere.

We need a better solution than rules, which effectively allow them to camp freely on public land for long periods of time, as long as they move from one location to another every week. We need to encourage them to use well managed official sites and face tougher and faster penalties if they abuse public open space that is there for the benefit of everyone.

In the meantime we will making sure the Police and Council officers continue to keep a close eye on this particular group, as long as they remain in Acocks Green.