Sandwell Council officers acted swiftly to remove an unauthorised traveler camp in Rowley Regis from council land in less than 24 hours.

Three caravans moved onto the field off Angela Avenue on Tuesday. Two wooden bollards were removed from the entrance of the field using chainsaws, which was reported to the police as criminal damage.

Sandwell Council wardens, officers and the police attended and council staff used a large truck to immediately block the site, preventing more caravans from moving on.

The council then engaged high court enforcement officers to serve common law notice on the group before lunchtime - requiring them to leave the same day. The group moved the caravans off the site at around 5.30pm. Chief executive of Sandwell Council Jan Britton said:

“We were made aware of an unauthorised encampment on land in Angela Avenue in Rowley Regis [on Tuesday morning]. Wooden bollards were removed with chainsaws to gain access to the site.

“I’d like to reassure residents that the site will be secured to prevent future unauthorised encampments and we’re looking at building a bank around the field.

"We’re also making sure other sites around Sandwell are secured against trespassers. As we did in February, we have acted quickly to remove an unauthorised encampment from council land in less than 24 hours.

“I’d like to thank the council officers, wardens, high court enforcement officers and police involved today.”

In February, the council removed four unauthorised encampments from council land in less than a week – all within 24 hours of the groups gaining access.

The council has now submitted a planning application for a transit site in Smethwick – to be used by travelling groups who would pay £80 per caravan per week to pitch up for a short stay, plus a £250 deposit to cover running costs.

By creating a transit site - a multi-agency approach between Sandwell Council and West Midlands Police - police will be able to use previously unavailable powers to immediately remove unauthorised encampments from council land and order travellers to move to the transit site within an agreed time.

The planning application will be discussed at a meeting on May 3rd.