Key Points
- Unauthorised Encampment: A group of Travellers has set up an unauthorised encampment on Sunnyside Park, off Chelsea Street in Great Lever, Bolton.
- Arrival: Local residents said the caravans and accompanying vehicles arrived on the green space around Wednesday, 19 August.
- Community Concerns: Residents have raised concerns about child safety, alleged illegal access to the site, and large amounts of rubbish and litter left across the park.
- Impact on Local Project: The encampment is occupying land earmarked for a new flagship “community shop” and café, which is due to open on 16 September.
- Council and Partnership Involvement: Bolton Council, working with national bakery chain Warburton’s, has been supporting the regeneration of the former Sunnyside Community Centre into an affordable shop and community hub.
- Official Response: Great Lever ward councillor Cllr Mohammed Ayub said the council is following standard legal procedures to regain possession of the site and clear the area for development.
- Residents’ Frustration: Residents have criticised the speed of the council and police response and compared it with how larger parks, including Moss Bank Park and Leverhulme Park, are managed.
Bolton (Bolton Today) August 24, 2026 - A group of Travellers has set up an unauthorised encampment on Sunnyside Park in Great Lever, raising immediate concerns among local residents and town officials. The arrival of the caravans and vehicles occurs just weeks before a highly anticipated community shop and café project is set to launch on the site with official support from Bolton Council and bakery chain Warburton's.
When Did the Travellers Arrive on Sunnyside Park in Bolton?
The encampment was first spotted by nearby residents mid-week on the green space off Chelsea Street in Great Lever. The arrival has caused notable distress among members of the local community who regularly utilise the park for recreational activities.
As reported by reporter detailed coverage in The Bolton News, an unnamed local resident stated that:
"I think they arrived possibly Wednesday last week, I've tried to get hold of the council and the police but I've not had any response."
The site remains occupied by a cluster of caravans and vehicles parked directly on the open grass. Residents living adjacent to the park have expressed growing impatience regarding the ongoing situation and the perceived lack of immediate enforcement action by regional authorities.
What Are Local Residents Saying About the Sunnyside Park Encampment?
Local community members have raised several primary concerns ranging from environmental degradation to child safety. Sunnyside Park serves as a crucial green space for families with young children residing in the surrounding urban streets.
As reported by The Bolton News, an affected local resident stated that:
"They've literally trashed the place, they've left rubbish around the place, they've been litter."
The resident further highlighted what they perceived as an disparity in local authority response times based on geographic area, stating to The Bolton News:
"If it was Moss Bank Park or Leverhulme Park they'd have acted about it a bit quicker than this!"
Photographs taken from the scene and shared publicly show multiple caravans alongside private vehicles positioned prominently across the central grassy area of the park.
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How Does the Encampment Affect the New Sunnyside Community Shop Project?
The presence of the Traveller group comes at a delicate time for Great Lever's infrastructure development. Sunnyside Park has recently been at the center of key regeneration plans intended to tackle local food insecurity and provide community support.
Plans were formally approved in April to convert the abandoned Sunnyside Community Centre into a vibrant new retail and social space. Earlier in August, Bolton Council announced that the new "community shop" would officially open its doors to the public in mid-September. Supported directly by the local authority and national bakery giant Warburton's, the initiative aims to offer essential goods, including fresh vegetables and loaves of bread, for as little as 20p to assist low-income households, alongside an integrated community café.
What Is Bolton Council Doing to Resolve the Situation at Sunnyside Park?
Local ward representatives have reassured the public that official channels are being followed to ensure the land is cleared safely and lawfully prior to the project's launch date.
As reported by The Bolton News, Great Lever ward councillor Cllr Mohammed Ayub stated that:
"Obviously we'll go through the correct legal process to deal with this."
Expressing disappointment over the location chosen for the unauthorized camp, Cllr Mohammed Ayub added in statements to The Bolton News:
"I think it's a shame these people have chosen this site where we are developing the Sunnyside Community Shop. We've working together very closely to open the shop on September 16 so we need to make sure the site is cleaned."
Bolton Council is expected to initiate standard statutory notice procedures to regain possession of the land. Local authorities in England typically serve a Direction to Leave under section 77 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, followed by court proceedings if the site is not vacated within the designated timeframe.
What Is the Historical Context of Unauthorised Encampments in Bolton Parks?
This incident is not the first time local parks in Bolton have experienced unauthorised encampments during the summer period. Previous incidents across the borough have historically required combined action from local councils, police authorities, and court bailiffs to resolve.
In previous instances recorded across Great Lever and wider Bolton parks—such as Moss Bank Park—council officials have had to secure formal court orders to ensure site clearance, often followed by extensive cleansing efforts by municipal ground staff to restore public access.
Local community leaders and residents continue to monitor the situation closely on Chelsea Street as the deadline for the opening of the Sunnyside Community Shop approaches.