Travellers establish camps near playgrounds, shopping hotspots across UK

In the UK, several communities are confronting issues related to groups of travellers setting up unauthorized encampments on public land. In Bicester, Oxfordshire, residents are expressing safety and hygiene concerns after a large group of travellers established a camp on a football pitch near the popular Bicester Village shopping area, despite recent efforts by the town council to prevent such access. Similar incidents have occurred in North Staffordshire, where caravans have been reported near a children's play area in Clayton, following earlier encampments in supermarket car parks in the region. While local authorities in North Staffordshire responded promptly with legal measures, the most recent group moved on before enforcement was necessary. These episodes are part of a broader pattern of traveller groups setting up camps in various public spaces across the country, often leading to complaints from local residents about disturbances and mess left behind. The recurring nature of these incidents highlights the ongoing challenges faced by both communities and local councils in managing unauthorized traveller encampments.