‘Dirty nappies left at uni site’ after Traveller camp set up in Selly Oak Park

A group of Travellers established an unauthorised encampment at Selly Oak Park, next to a children’s play area.

This comes as previous incidents of littering and disruption were reported at other locations in south Birmingham.

As many as 15 caravans and vehicles appeared in the park, situated off Gibbins Road, on the evening of Sunday 18th May.

The encampment, which was set up near a children’s play area, is only the latest in a series of similar incidents across the city’s southern neighbourhoods. These encampments, while not uncommon, have raised tensions and concerns among local residents, with many reporting unsanitary conditions and other forms of disruption.

This most recent camp in Selly Oak follows a string of similar incidents, which have drawn attention to ongoing challenges related to land use and the provision of adequate accommodation for the Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities. The growing trend of illegal campsites has become a source of frustration for residents and local authorities, who continue to grapple with the balancing act between enforcement and community support.

Earlier this month, another large group of Travellers set up camp on land owned by the University of Birmingham. Dozens of caravans and vehicles parked on Westhill Close, in Selly Oak, an area known for its historic significance. The site is home to Grade II-listed cottages, designed by the renowned Bournville Trust architect William Alexander Harvey, a fact that has only heightened the concern among residents about the impact these encampments may have on local heritage.

One local resident, who asked to remain anonymous, shared their experience with BirminghamLive. The individual took it upon themselves to clean up the mess left behind after the group vacated the university grounds.

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“When they were on the university land, I went and tidied up,” the resident said. “I bagged up the mess and put it by the bin. The rubbish was scattered everywhere – some was in bags, but most of it was just left on the ground. I found dirty nappies and beer cans thrown on top of hedges. It was an awful sight.”

But this isn’t just a university issue. A similar scene played out in the Longbridge area, when a group of Travellers tried to set up camp near the MG car site. Residents in the area reported a heavy police presence on Lowhill Lane, where authorities intervened and managed to disperse the group. However, these temporary measures have only highlighted the recurring problem.

In late April, another group of around 17 caravans and vehicles took up residence at Parkdale Park, just off Longbridge Lane in West Heath, an area not far from the busy Longbridge district. A few weeks earlier, Travellers had also set up at Woodgate Valley Country Park, with another camp pitched in fields near the children’s play area in Kings Heath Park.

In a statement, Birmingham City Council sought to reassure the public that it is actively addressing the problem of unauthorised encampments.

“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 usable transit sites and plots for use by the Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller community, in line with Government policy. We also encourage residents to refer to the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment, which was last updated in 2019, available on our website.”

Featured image via Google Maps