By CAITLIN LENG
Published: | Updated:
A council has resorted to digging trenches around parks in a bid to stop the 'unlawful encampment' of travellers.
Birmingham City Council has dug defensive trenches around at least three parks in the city over the past few months to stop traveller vans illegally occupying the sites.
The action follows a summer of 'whack-a-mole'-style problems where officials would invoke legal routes to clear caravans from public land, only for them to quickly pop up elsewhere.
In recent weeks, Daisy Farm Park, situated off Maypole Lane in Highter's Heath had the trenches - reminiscent of moats - dug out around its perimeter. The same tactic has also been employed at Manningford Road in Druids Heath, and at the entrance of Chinn Brook Recreation Ground in Yardley Wood in August.
Brandwood Police confirmed a 'trench was currently being dug out in Manningford Park to prevent any unlawful encampment'.
It comes as Birmingham has encountered scores of incidents where travellers have arrived in caravans, motorhomes and vehicles to set up camp throughout the summer months.
Birmingham City Council has dug defensive trenches around at least three parks in the city in a bid to stop the 'unlawful encampment' of travellers (Pictured: A trench around Daisy Farm Recreation Ground)
The action comes as Birmingham has encountered scores of incidents where travellers have arrived in caravans, motorhomes and vehicles to set up camp (Pictured: A trench at Manningford Road in Druids Heath)
Birmingham City Council said it is 'committed to safeguarding public open spaces for the benefit of all users' (Pictured: A trench at Manningford Road in Druids Heath)
A spokesperson for the city council said increased encampment pressures has meant they were 'required' to consider a 'wider range of preventative measures'.
They said: 'The council adopts a range of proportionate site-management measures to deter unauthorised vehicle access and unauthorised encampments on parks and open spaces where there is an evidenced history of recurring incidents.
'Increased encampment pressures, together with repeated damage to existing boundary infrastructure and access controls, have required the council to consider a wider range of preventative measures.
'The use of ditches, bunds and other landscape interventions forms part of a broader toolkit of options and is implemented only where considered necessary, appropriate and site-specific.
They added the council was 'committed to safeguarding public open spaces for the benefit of all users', and would continue to 'review and monitor measures at individual locations'.