Travellers Settle at Sutton Coldfield Playing Fields, Casting Doubt on Upcoming Summer Event

A group of travellers has established an unauthorised encampment on King George’s Playing Fields in Sutton Coldfield, raising concerns about the fate of a planned midsummer event this weekend. The group was first spotted arriving on Tuesday, June 16, with locals reporting that they forced entry through a padlocked main gate.

One resident told BirminghamLive that the travellers broke in by bypassing the locked gate and even damaged a notice board in the process. “More caravans are arriving now,” the local added. “The police and the local councillor have been notified. We have a police report reference number 5316.”

The playing fields were scheduled to host a midsummer event on Saturday, June 20, but organisers fear it may have to be cancelled. Locals recall a similar incident two years prior, when the area suffered extensive damage, including to the Millenium Wood, and cleanup took months even after significant city council effort.

Birmingham City Council reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public land and managing unauthorised encampments. The council noted the availability of suitable transit sites and plots for the Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities across the city, aligning with government policy. The 2019 Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment is available for public reference on the council’s website.