Bristol council admits "losing battle" over illegal traveller encampments
Concerns have been raised about incursions in city parks
Council leaders admit they are facing a losing battle to keep unauthorised traveller encampments off Bristol green spaces.
It follows the seventh incursion at Kings Head Lane Park in Bishopsworth over the last two summers when a large group comprising almost 40 vehicles illegally entered and occupied the site last month before leaving after several days.
Bristol City Council told residents at the time that it was looking to beef up security gate barriers at the park.
In response to a question at Bristol City Council member forum by local Tory ward councillor Richard Eddy, public health and communities committee chair Cllr Stephen Williams said any additional restriction measures would be implemented in the current financial year, ending next March.
But Cllr Williams (Lib Dem, Westbury-on-Trym & Henleaze) said at the meeting: “The trouble the parks service has is that as soon as the security is upgraded, for example by enhanced padlocks, people come along with mechanical bolt cutters and cut through them.
“It is really difficult for us to stop someone who is determined to access a green space from doing so, other than putting in physical barriers, which for example has happened around part of Horfield Common, and we are looking at doing it around the rest of Horfield Common where we have tree trunks to stop the encampments that were routinely taking place there.
“So it is a difficult situation and is something officers are trying to address but unfortunately the enhanced security quite often fails because people are determined to get on the site and come along with enhanced equipment.
“I’ve been discussing this with officers because of incursions around the city.
“It’s been a particular problem in the green space in Sea Mills.”
In a statement to the meeting on Tuesday, September 8, Cllr Eddy said: “On August 24, a large group of travellers forced entry into Kings Head Lane Park, damaging the site’s only vehicular entrance and illegally occupying the park with almost 40 vehicles.
“Although the encampment left within a week, I have rarely witnessed such anger and frustration among local residents.
“This was not an isolated incident. It was the fourth traveller occupation of the park this year, following a further three incidents in 2025.
“The impact on the community was significant.
“Residents were denied the use of one of their most valued local green spaces and were left to deal with litter, human waste, toilet paper and sanitary products.
“Many reported intimidating and aggressive behaviour, and I personally witnessed one of several assaults reported during the occupation.
“What makes this particularly unacceptable is that it was preventable.
“For more than 18 months, local residents and ward councillors have been calling for basic security improvements to protect the site.
“Had those measures been implemented when first requested, there is a strong case that this latest occupation could have been avoided altogether.”