Caravans enter Birmingham park for fifth encampment this year
Nearly a dozen caravans and cars entered Beaufort Park in east Birmingham on Wednesday, reportedly after locks were smashed. It is the fifth encampment there this year, despite a council pledge to introduce measures to prevent groups entering the park, and residents say they are avoiding the area.
Residents and local councillors say previous visits have damaged grass, trees and locks, and left litter; one resident also described an earlier fire that prompted a call to the fire brigade. Council figures record 132 unauthorised encampments involving 2,280 caravans across Birmingham in 2025-26, increases of 43% and 75% respectively on the previous year. A ward councillor says Beaufort Park was given top priority for preventative action, but the promised measures have not yet been installed.
In short
- Travellers have set up at Beaufort Park for the fifth time this year.
- Residents report damage and say they are avoiding the park.
- Birmingham recorded 132 unauthorised encampments in 2025-26.
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The case for
Residents and councillors can reasonably argue that repeated unauthorised encampments are damaging a shared public space and making some people feel unable to use it. The council’s unfulfilled pledge is especially concerning given the reported damage and rising city-wide figures; they may see effective preventative measures as a basic duty to protect the park and reassure residents.
The case against
Others may argue that preventing access with stronger barriers risks treating all caravan groups alike and can restrict legitimate public use of the park. They may favour a proportionate response that addresses damage and safety concerns while also ensuring people have somewhere lawful to stop, rather than relying mainly on physical deterrents.
Explained simply
Beaufort Park is a public green space in east Birmingham. An unauthorised encampment is when people park caravans on land without the landowner’s permission; councils must manage these visits while considering the rights and needs of those involved.
Birmingham City Council is responsible for the park and has said it would introduce measures to deter vehicles from entering. Residents and local councillors have raised concerns about damage, rubbish and access to the park, while council figures show unauthorised encampments have increased across the city. The issue matters because it involves how public spaces are protected and how councils respond to repeated encampments.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Travellers smash through gates and set up camp in public park for fifth time this year – despite council promising crackdown”.