Bid to 'reset' city's relationship with travellers

BIRMINGHAM City Council has said it wants to ‘reset’ its relationship with the travelling community as encampments take their toll on the city.

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Caravans have been seen parked at a number of parks and recreation grounds in recent weeks, including in Bartley Green, Yardley, Billesley and Kings Heath.

‘The council has obligations to provide transit sites to which it can direct encampments when they happen in the city, typically providing hard standing, a secure boundary and basic sanitary provision. Some also provide electricity.

But one of the council's two transit sites has suffered repeated vandalism while another has been home to “long-term occupants’.

In a report, the council said the issues at both sites had created pressures elsewhere when unauthorised encampments occupied public spaces, often resulting in damage and cleanup costs.