Midlands MP demands action from council over unauthorised encampments at a West Midlands beauty spot
A Midlands MP has called on Birmingham City Council to take action to “protect” a beauty spot from unauthorised encampments.
In recent weeks and months, caravans have been spotted parked up at sites across Birmingham in areas such as Longbridge, Bartley Green, Yardley, Billesley and Kings Heath.
And now Bradley Thomas, who represents the Bromsgrove constituency, says he has written to Birmingham Council’s chief executive over encampments in Cofton Park, close to the Worcestershire border.
Mr Thomas said he had been contacted by concerned Cofton Hackett residents in recent days after an unauthorised encampment appeared on the park.
“Cofton Park is a much-loved park but more and more frequently travellers are setting up illegal encampments there,” the Conservative MP claimed.
“This is having a huge impact on the quality of life of residents in Cofton Hackett.”
He added in a statement that the incursions were “very distressing for local residents” due to concerns over disruption, anti-social behaviour and the “rubbish and filth that is left behind when they depart”.
He went on to say that the encampments are becoming more frequent yet claimed Labour-run Birmingham Council, which owns the park, is “failing” to take steps to prevent the incursions.
In a letter to the council’s chief executive, he set out three demands:
Take swift action and remove travellers from Cofton Park within twenty-four hours.
Seek a “newcomer” injunction to proactively prevent unauthorised encampments on Cofton Park.
Secure the park entry/exit point sooner rather than later to prevent further break ins.
A spokesperson for the council said in response: “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 our website.”
Birmingham Council’s temporary traveller sites plan
The council has come under fire recently over the ‘glacial progress’ of plans to introduce temporary sites for travellers, a move which could relieve “pressure” caused by unauthorised encampments in Birmingham.
The city’s two permanent transit sites, where travellers can be directed to, have both suffered issues in the past – one because of repeated damage and vandalism and the other because it is home to “long-term occupants”.
With this in mind, the council is planning to introduce a ‘negotiated stopping’ pilot which would see unused pieces of land in the city used by travellers for “short term stays”.
But the authority previously pushed the start date back from June to October.
A recent council report said the consultation with communities and businesses near the proposed stopping sites is due to take place in August and September.
Amid frustration from councillors over the “little progress” being made, a council officer blamed the delay on ‘site identification and resourcing’ issues at a meeting last month.
“We have been working very hard on identifying sites and getting a shortlist up for the potential consultation,” she said. “But due to the criteria for the sites, that is proving quite difficult.”
On the possible sites, a council report published ahead of the meeting said: “An initial shortlist has been drawn up by officers.
“It is being considered jointly by planning, housing and property colleagues before wider consultation can take place on a finalised shortlist.”
The council has in the past pledged to take “everyone’s views into consideration” over the pilot scheme, which is set to last for at least 12 months, and said it was also focusing on “community cohesion”.
“The council will need to assess the success of adopting the negotiated stopping approach before it can be embedded more broadly as a way forward,” it said.
