Key Points
- New Protective Infrastructure Approved: Bolton Council has sanctioned financial spending to implement enhanced security provisions at Longsight Park in Harwood to mitigate recurring land damage.
- Unauthorised Encampment Response: The proactive measures follow the recent occupation of the municipal park by an unauthorised camp consisting of eight caravans and associated tents.
- Legal Enforcement Executed: Local authorities successfully utilised Section 77 eviction notices to legally compel the encampment to vacate the green space within a swift timeframe.
- Proposals for Asset Fortification: Anticipated physical security upgrades include reinforced metal barriers, heavy-duty anti-tamper locks, and retractable pull-up bollards at the site's primary access points.
- Compounded Issues with Anti-Social Behaviour: The decision comes amid wider community frustrations regarding quad bikes and off-road motorbikes tearing up the grass and football pitches, which led to a Section 59 Police Act protection order.
Harwood (Bolton Today) June 3, 2026 — Capital funding is officially set to be allocated toward installing robust new security measures at a popular local park in Harwood, following significant disruptions and structural damage caused by an unauthorised Travellers' encampment and persistent off-road vehicular activity over the past month. Bolton Council has initiated comprehensive security reviews to fortify the entrances of Longsight Park, aiming to safeguard the community asset from future incursions while ensuring it remains highly accessible to law-abiding members of the general public. The decision to invest in physical infrastructure upgrades materialised after a convoy of eight caravans and accompanying tents bypassed existing park boundaries to set up camp directly on the community's local football pitches, prompting emergency legal interventions from municipal authorities and sparking widespread concern among nearby residents.
Why Is Bolton Council Implementing New Security Infrastructure at Longsight Park?
The decision to install upgraded security hardware follows a string of incidents that have left the municipal green space vulnerable to property damage and community disruption. As originally reported by trainee digital reporter Joe Regent of The Bolton News, the immediate catalyst for the council’s intervention was the arrival of an unauthorised encampment that took over portions of the park, including its focal football playing fields.
Local authorities and ward councillors have expressed a growing consensus that the park's existing boundary protections are no longer sufficient to deter forced entries. According to municipal records, the land at Longsight Park is predominantly council-owned, making the local authority directly liable for the maintenance, environmental remediation, and security policing of the geography.
Beyond the immediate challenges posed by unauthorised vehicle camps, the park has been subject to ongoing ecological and structural degradation from anti-social riders. The compounding wear-and-tear on the park's fields has transformed parts of the manicured turf into mud, rendering sections unusable for local sports groups and strollers. By committing to fixed capital expenditure for security upgrades, the council intends to create a permanent physical deterrent against all forms of unauthorised vehicular access.
What Exactly Happened During the Recent Unauthorised Encampment Incident?
The logistical and legal timeline of the recent incursion reveals a rapid escalation and subsequent mobilization by local stakeholders. As reported by Joe Regent of The Bolton News, the unauthorised camp was first noted on Wednesday, 13 May 2026, when a local resident spotted a fleet of just over half-a-dozen caravans moving onto the green space and subsequently alerted town hall officials.
By Thursday, 14 May 2026, the encampment had solidified its presence, with a total of eight caravans and various auxiliary tents pitched directly on the recreational football fields near the main park hub. The sudden positioning of heavy vehicles on the playing surfaces caused immediate alarm regarding the preservation of the turf and the restriction of local sporting activities.
In accordance with statutory government guidelines, Bolton Council did not immediately move to forced eviction. Instead, council officers deployed to the site on Thursday afternoon to conduct mandatory welfare and safeguarding checks. These assessments are legally required to evaluate whether any occupants within the unauthorised camp exhibit pressing medical vulnerabilities, educational needs, or immediate health concerns that would legally delay eviction proceedings. Upon completing the evaluation, the local authority confirmed that no health or welfare issues were present among the occupants, clearing the path for formal legal enforcement.
How Did Local Authorities Handle the Legal Eviction Process?
Once welfare obligations were satisfied, the machinery of local government moved swiftly to reclaim the public land. In a follow-up report compiled by the journalistic team at The Bolton News, it was revealed that Bolton Council formally served a Section 77 notice under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 on Friday afternoon, 15 May 2026.
A Section 77 notice operates as a primary legal directive, empowering a local authority to order individuals in an unauthorised encampment to leave the land and remove any vehicles or personal property. Failure to comply with a Section 77 directive constitutes a criminal offense and grants the council power to apply to a Magistrates’ Court for a Section 78 order, authorizing the physical removal of the vehicles.
During the active enforcement window, a spokesperson representing Bolton Council publicly clarified the local authority's operational stance, stating:
“We are aware of an unauthorised encampment at Longsight Park. All the appropriate welfare checks have been carried out and we have started the legal process to have the encampment removed.”
The legal pressure proved effective. Faced with the prospect of escalating court proceedings and potential vehicle seizures, the occupants complied with the removal notice. By Thursday, 21 May 2026, the site was entirely vacated, allowing council cleansing and maintenance crews to survey the area and begin the process of restoring the heavily tracked land.
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Council Plans Security Upgrades at Longsight Park: Harwood 2026
What Specific Security Upgrades Are Being Proposed for the Park?
With the encampment cleared, political figures and council officers have redirected their efforts toward a permanent infrastructure review to ensure the park's boundaries cannot be breached in a similar fashion. As reported by The Bolton News, the physical upgrades under active consideration focus heavily on reinforcing the primary access gates and perimeter vulnerable points.
The targeted security enhancements being planned for the site include:
- Upgraded Metal Barriers: Replacing standard municipal gates with heavy-duty, reinforced steel or iron barrier systems capable of resisting vehicular ramming or deliberate structural bending.
- Anti-Tamper Lock Systems: Implementing commercial-grade, shielded locking mechanisms designed to prevent standard bolt cutters, angle grinders, or manual cutting tools from shearing the entry locks.
- Retractable Pull-Up Bollards: Installing heavy vertical steel bollards at key pedestrian entryways and vehicular maintenance tracks. These bollards can be lowered into the ground via specialized keys for legitimate council maintenance vehicles but remain locked upright to block private cars, vans, and caravans.
The overarching design objective is to strike a balance between robust mechanical security and public utility. Speaking on the day the gates were temporarily re-secured, Councillor James Moller, representing the Bradshaw ward, provided explicit details on the immediate and long-term plans. As reported by The Bolton News, Councillor Moller stated:
“They've now left and they are locking the gate today [21 May]. They're updating the metal barrier and putting a new lock on. The council is also looking at what other measures they can put in place to stop people cutting it off. We've proposed improving the barriers and putting in pull-up bollards as well. We want to make it secure but still easy to access.”
How Has Prior Damage from Quad Bikes Influenced This Decision?
The urgency surrounding the security installation at Longsight Park cannot be viewed in isolation; it is heavily compounded by a history of anti-social behavior involving off-road vehicles. In March 2026, the park suffered severe ecological damage when illegal quad bikes and off-road motorbikes repeatedly tore through the green spaces.
As detailed in earlier coverage by The Bolton News, large swathes of the park’s pristine paths and grass fields were systematically reduced to deep muck, ruts, and visible bike tracks. The destruction drew sharp criticism from community groups, most notably the Friends of Harwood and Longsight Park, a volunteer organization dedicated to maintaining and upgrading the local environment. Jane Wilcock, a leading representative of the volunteer group, spoke out at the time regarding the psychological and physical impact of the riders on the community.
As reported by The Bolton News, Jane Wilcock stated:
“A couple of lads have been on the grass, I don't know whether it's deliberate or they're not aware that it's a muddy area and does a lot damage. People have been contacting me to say they've been frightened going through the park because of the bikes and quad bikes going quite fast. It's an accident waiting to happen really.”
Wilcock also highlighted a modern dilemma: the rise of silent electric bikes and electric quads, which allow riders to speed up behind pedestrians without audible warning, significantly increasing the danger of collisions. She heavily advocated for the installation of prominent, explicit exclusionary signage, adding:
“There's nothing to tell people that they can't take quad bikes in there, I really feel if there was a sign that would be a step up. I'm not sure how much is deliberate and how much is real ignorance.”
In response to the March destruction, a spokesperson for Bolton Council formally condemned the behavior, issuing a statement that read:
“Bolton's parks are for everyone and they should be a place of calm for all to enjoy. Quad bikes have no place in our parks, especially when they are causing damage and danger. We always take these issues seriously and we are actively looking at ways to tackle the problems caused.”
To combat this, the park was placed under a Section 59 order of the Police Reform Act 2002. This order gives police constables elevated powers to seize any off-road motorized vehicles if they are driven in a manner causing alarm, distress, or annoyance to the public. It also makes failing to stop for an officer an offense punishable by a fine of up to £1,000. Despite the Section 59 designation, the lack of physical barriers meant the park remained structurally vulnerable, a loophole the newly proposed bollards and gate systems are explicitly designed to close.
What Role Do Community Volunteers Play in Restoring Longsight Park?
While the council handles large-scale legalities and heavy infrastructure, the day-to-day stewardship and aesthetic upkeep of Longsight Park rely extensively on local civic engagement. The Friends of Harwood and Longsight Park have spent years transforming the area into a major regional attraction, raising external capital, and contributing manual labor to maintain its paths, woodlands, and unique botanical assets.
The group's efforts were recently recognized and rewarded by the local community. As reported by The Oldham Times, the volunteer group received a substantial financial boost in the form of a cheque for £872. The funds were raised directly through a popular monthly artisan market organized by the Harwood Methodist Church and managed by a local volunteer group colloquially known as the "Orange Apron Gang."
The funding injection is earmarked for community-led restoration projects within the park, specifically targeting a disused infrastructure area. Commenting on the donation, Jane Wilcock expressed her gratitude to the community and outlined the group's practical plans. As reported by The Oldham Times, Wilcock stated:
“Money was raised through Harwood Methodist's May artisan market and this funding will help the volunteers improve local green spaces for all. Thank you to the church and apron gang, the stall holders and those who came and spent their money. The money will be spent on renovating our part of the disused compound, The Nest.”
This community-led vitality underscores why the recent spate of damage has caused such intense local frustration. The park is a highly valued ecological haven; it features veteran trees recognized by the Ancient Tree Inventory and sits close to major environmental projects, such as United Utilities' massive £150 million infrastructure network. This network includes a 900-metre storm-water storage tunnel system designed to improve water quality in the adjacent Bradshaw Brook. With significant volunteer energy and multi-million-pound utility investments converging on the park, the implementation of stricter security measures by Bolton Council represents a vital protective step to ensure that public and private restoration efforts are not undone by vandalism or unauthorised vehicle incursions.