Key Points
- Bolton Council has served a section 77 notice on eight caravans parked at Longsight Park, Harwood, ordering them to leave and remove their property.
- The encampment has been in the popular park since Thursday.
- If the caravans are not removed, the council may take legal action through the courts.
- A Bolton Council spokesperson said the authority is aware of the unauthorised encampment at Longsight Park.
- The report highlights a formal council response to a trespass issue on public land in Harwood.
Bolton (Bolton Today) May 16, 2026 - Bolton Council has issued a section 77 notice to eight caravans on Longsight Park in Harwood after travellers had been on the site since Thursday, beginning a formal legal process that could end in court action if the vehicles are not removed. The notice, served on Friday afternoon, requires those present to leave the land and take their property with them, marking the latest development in a dispute over an unauthorised encampment on a well-used public park.
What happened at Longsight Park?
The immediate issue is straightforward: an unauthorised encampment has remained at Longsight Park for several days, prompting the local authority to step in. According to the report, the travellers were first in the park on Thursday, and by Friday afternoon Bolton Council had responded with a legal notice under section 77. That notice is a formal order used to direct people to leave council or public land and remove their belongings. The presence of eight caravans suggests the encampment was sizeable enough to require a direct council intervention.
Why did Bolton Council act?
The council’s action appears to have been triggered by the continued occupation of the park. Section 77 notices are commonly used when local authorities want to regain control of land occupied without permission. In this case, the order was served after the travellers had remained on site for at least a day, indicating the council chose a legal route rather than waiting for the group to move voluntarily. The report makes clear that the council has warned of further steps if the notice is not obeyed.
What does a section 77 notice mean?
A section 77 notice is a legal mechanism that requires people to leave land and remove any property they have brought onto it. If the order is ignored, the authority can proceed through the courts. In practical terms, that means the issue can move from an administrative complaint to a formal legal case. In this instance, the notice was issued to the eight caravans at Longsight Park, meaning the council has put the occupants on notice that staying put could lead to escalation.
What did the council say?
A Bolton Council spokesperson said the authority is aware of
“an unauthorised encampment at Longsight Park.”
That statement confirms the council’s acknowledgement of the situation, although the quoted material provided does not include further detail on welfare checks, enforcement timelines or the condition of the park. The spokesperson’s wording is significant because it frames the situation as unauthorised rather than approved use of the land. No further council comment was included in the material provided.
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How has the story developed?
The key timeline in the report is short but important. The travellers were in the park from Thursday, and by Friday afternoon the council had issued the notice. That sequence shows a relatively swift response from the local authority once the encampment had been identified. The latest development is therefore not a clearance operation itself, but a formal notice giving the occupants a chance to leave before any court process begins.
What is the wider significance?
Cases like this often draw attention because they involve the balance between the rights of travellers, the duties of local authorities, and the use of public spaces by residents. Longsight Park is described as a popular park, which means any unauthorised encampment is likely to attract local concern. The council’s legal action suggests it is treating the matter seriously and seeking to restore access to the land under lawful procedure. The report does not give a wider community response, but the issue is one that can quickly become contentious in local areas.
What happens next?
The next step depends on whether the caravans are removed voluntarily. If the occupants comply with the section 77 notice, the matter may end without further action. If they do not, Bolton Council has indicated it will take the matter to court. That means the final outcome will depend on both the response of the travellers and any subsequent legal proceedings pursued by the authority. For now, the notice is the central development, and the situation remains active.