Key Points
- Persistent Encampment: Approximately 10 caravans remain pitched on the Johnson Fold side of Moss Bank Park, two days after being served with an official direction to leave the site.
- Legal Enforcement Initiated: Bolton Council officers issued formal Directions under Section 77 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, with legal proceedings prepared to obtain a formal court eviction order.
- Relatively 'Considerate' Group: Smithills ward councillor Roger Hayes noted that while the group knows the legal routine, they have been noticeably more careful and considerate compared to previous disruptive encampments.
- High Financial Burden: Figures obtained via a Freedom of Information (FOI) request reveal Bolton Council has spent more than £19,000 over two years on removing unauthorised Traveller encampments across the borough.
- Preventative Investments: Following past disruptions that forced local businesses to temporarily close, ward funds were used to install physical deterrents, including stone boulders and height barriers, around vulnerable park entrances.
Bolton (Bolton Today) July 22, 2026 - An unauthorised Traveller encampment consisting of roughly 10 caravans, associated vehicles, washing lines, and a quad bike remains stationed at Moss Bank Park, defying formal directions issued by local authority officers ordering them to vacate the public land. The group initially arrived on the Johnson Fold side of the park on Sunday evening, prompting an immediate response from town hall officials and local representatives. Despite council officers conducting welfare checks and serving notice under Section 77 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 on the morning of Monday, July 20, the encampment remained in place past the stipulated deadline. As a result, Bolton Council is now escalating the matter to court to secure a binding eviction order, while local representatives acknowledge that this specific group has maintained a markedly more considerate presence than those seen during previous, far more disruptive incidents at the popular recreational site.
What is the current situation regarding the Traveller encampment at Moss Bank Park?
The current encampment on the Johnson Fold side of Moss Bank Park developed rapidly over the weekend. As reported in coverage by The Bolton News, the arrival of approximately 10 caravans took local residents by surprise on Sunday evening, bringing a visible presence of domestic setups, including hanging laundry and recreational quad bikes, onto the well-used public turf.
The site chosen by the group sits slightly away from the primary leisure facilities and main children's play areas of Moss Bank Park, a location that has somewhat mitigated immediate operational disruption to park visitors. However, because the land belongs to the municipal council and is designated strictly for public parkland use, the presence of motor vehicles and living quarters without prior permission constitutes an unauthorised encampment.
As detailed in reports by journalists at The Bolton News, this latest arrival is not an isolated incident for the location. Just one week prior to the current group’s arrival, another smaller group of caravans briefly occupied a section of Moss Bank Park on Monday, July 13. In that instance, as recorded by reporter Joe Regent of The Bolton News, around 10 vans arrived around 8:00 pm and were moved off swiftly by Tuesday morning, July 14, leaving only minimal rubbish behind before council officers arrived to inspect the area. The return of a second, larger group to the park within seven days has renewed debate among the local community and elected representatives regarding access management, council expenditure, and the legal procedures involved in moving unauthorised groups from municipal ground.
What actions have Bolton Council and local authorities taken so far?
In response to the arrival of the caravans on Sunday evening, municipal officers acted swiftly to initiate the statutory legal process required to regain possession of the parkland.
As reported by The Bolton News, an official spokesperson for Bolton Council outlined the precise steps undertaken by the local authority:
"Officers have visited the site this morning (20th July) and carried out the appropriate welfare checks and served Directions to leave the land under Section 77 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. We will revisit after 24hrs to see if the directions have been complied with and if not, we will liaise with legal colleagues to arrange a court date so that an application for a court order can be made."
Under Section 77 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, local authorities possess the statutory power to order unauthorised campers to vacate land. Before issuing such directions, councils are legally required to perform welfare assessments to check if there are pressing health, educational, or social care needs among the individuals present, particularly young children or elderly residents. Once welfare checks are completed and directions served, occupants are typically given a 24-hour window to comply voluntarily.
Because the group did not leave within the requested 24-hour timeframe, Bolton Council’s legal department has been tasked with submitting an application to the Magistrates' Court. Obtaining a formal court order under Section 78 of the same Act grants the council and authorized bailiffs the legal right to enter the land and physically remove vehicles and personal property if necessary. Standard procedure dictates that once a summons is served, a court hearing date is set, which can take several working days depending on court availability.
How do local councillors and residents view the behaviour of this specific group?
While local residents generally express concern whenever public open spaces are occupied without authorization, comments from local representatives highlight a distinct difference in behaviour between the present group and those involved in previous encampments.
As reported by The Bolton News, Councillor Roger Hayes, who represents the Smithills ward where part of Moss Bank Park is situated, provided a detailed assessment of the ongoing situation:
"They are still there as of last night. I suspect they will hang on until the last minute. They know the routine, and will never leave until the court order comes. They normally take advantage, but this group are a lot more considerate; they are camped away from the main attractions."
Cllr Hayes drew a sharp contrast between the current encampment and the severe disruption experienced by the local community in the previous year. Speaking to The Bolton News, Cllr Hayes remarked:
"The ones who came last year were a nightmare, so it depends on the group. This group this time seem to have been careful, because they usually leave a mess. The council finds it more economical to give them a skip instead of dealing with any rubbish left on the park. We spent a lot of money from the ward budget last year on boulders to encourage them not to come on. Last year it was chaos. The café had to close, the fair had to close and people lost a fortune."
The pragmatic approach of providing waste disposal amenities, such as commercial skips, reflects lessons learned by municipal authorities in managing encampments. Providing waste disposal facilities onsite reduces the likelihood of widespread fly-tipping and excessive clean-up costs after the group departs. Nevertheless, despite the relatively low level of disruption from this specific group, elected officials maintain that public parks must remain accessible to all residents without unauthorized vehicular occupation.
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What measures and expenditure has Bolton Council implemented to manage encampments?
Managing unauthorised encampments across Bolton has incurred substantial public expenditure and prompted significant capital investments in security infrastructure.
As disclosed in a Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted and published by The Bolton News, town hall figures show that Bolton Council spent £16,926.90 during the 2024/25 financial year specifically on legal processes, court applications, bailiff fees, and clean-up operations associated with moving Travellers off council land. This contrasts with £0 recorded in 2023/24 and £2,430 recorded in 2025/26, bringing total council expenditure on removing encampments to over £19,000 across a two-year period.
How have public parks been physically secured against vehicles?
To reduce recurring eviction costs, the council and individual ward committees have invested directly in physical perimeter defenses:
- Stone Boulders at Moss Bank Park: Following the chaos of the previous year's encampments, ward funding was allocated to position large natural stone boulders along perimeter verges to block heavy vehicles and caravans from mounting kerbs.
- Height Barriers at Longsight Park: Following repeated incursions at Longsight Park in Harwood—including an incident in May where eight caravans occupied the site, resulting in reports of human waste, property damage, and litter—new restriction barriers were installed at both the main entrance and the Arboretum entrance.
- Targeted Access Controls: Double-locked gates and reinforced posts have been added at strategic entrance points across various suburban parks.
What are the broader legal frameworks and rights surrounding Traveller encampments in Bolton?
The issue of unauthorised encampments sits at the intersection of local government powers, criminal and civil law, and human rights legislation.
As reported by senior reporter Zach Harrison and fellow journalists at The Bolton News, the statutory duties governing local councils differ significantly depending on whether an encampment takes place on public or private land:
- Public Municipal Land: When an encampment occurs on council-owned parks, playing fields, or highways, the local authority acts as both landowner and public body. The council possesses specific powers under Sections 77 and 78 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to serve directions and obtain court eviction orders. However, as a public body, the council must comply with human rights guidelines and equality legislation.
- Private Property: If an encampment takes place on privately owned land—such as commercial car parks or private fields—the responsibility for eviction rests entirely with the private landowner. Landowners must instruct private bailiffs or apply to the County Court under Civil Procedure Rules Part 55 to gain possession.
Under the Equality Act 2010, Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers are recognized as distinct ethnic groups and are protected against unlawful discrimination, harassment, and victimization. Local authorities are required to balance these statutory protections and public welfare obligations against the property rights of the council and the community's right to access public amenities safely.
What is the historical context of Traveller encampments across Bolton's public parks?
Unauthorised encampments in Moss Bank Park and other public spaces across Bolton have formed part of a broader, recurring pattern over recent years.
As documented in historical reporting by The Bolton News, previous encampments across the borough have led to varying degrees of community disruption:
- Moses Gate Country Park: In recent years, Bolton Council officially closed down a long-standing Travellers' camp at Moses Gate following persistent issues that authorities linked to criminal activity. Following that closure, multiple smaller groups began appearing in surrounding areas, including Breightmet, Darcy Lever, and Westhoughton.
- Golf Courses and Open Spaces: Encampments have periodically been reported on golf courses in Westhoughton and recreational fields across the borough, requiring repeated intervention from council legal officers and local police forces.
- Impact on Local Enterprise: Previous encampments at Moss Bank Park led to temporary closures of local amenities, including the park café and seasonal funfairs, generating financial losses for small business owners and event organizers.
As legal proceedings regarding the current 10-caravan encampment at Moss Bank Park progress through the courts, local authorities continue to seek a balance between enforcing property rights, protecting public space, and fulfilling statutory duties toward travelling communities.