Council issues update on the travellers camped at Imperial sports ground in south Bristol

Bristol City Council says it is working with the police and the landowners in an attempt to get a group of travellers removed from a sports ground in south Bristol.

The travellers arrived at the Imperial football and rugby ground on the junction of Sturminster Road and West Town Lane in Stockwood on Thursday (July 27). Police attended as a large number of vehicles started to enter the site and officers temporarily blocked the gates.

More travellers arrived at the sports fields on Friday and it is unknown how long they intend to stay.

In recent weeks, groups of travellers have set up encampments at fields next to Asda in Whitchurch and were previously pitched in Hengrove Park. Each time, they moved on just before imminent evictions.

A Bristol City Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of the large group of travellers moving around south Bristol, some of whom have recently left Whitchurch Park and were previously on Hengrove Park. We carried out a full welfare assessment when they arrived in the area and offered them support and advice.

“Traveller encampments pass through Bristol every year, and the majority of them cause very little disruption and raise few complaints. Most groups only stop in Bristol for a short time before moving on however the group has been in the area for almost two months and has continued to grow in size. We have obtained a possession order to allow us to carry out an eviction at Whitchurch Park, but the group has now moved on.

“Some of the group are now on land leased to the rugby club, and we will support the club to take legal action to get the group removed.

“We will continue to work with the group and Police to reduce disruption to the local community and support ethnic Gypsy and Traveller communities onto full time permanent sites.”

In a joint statement, Stockwood Ward Councillors Jonathan Hucker and Graham Morris said: “We are aware of a significant traveller incursion at the Manor Farm site of the Imperial Sports Ground.

“There appears to be a few smaller groups that have joined to form a large group. We understand that not one specific person is in charge and that the decision to leave will be taken as a group.

“We have alerted the Chief Constable and the Police and Crime Commissioner. We are also in communication with the relevant parties - the Neighbourhood Police Team, Bristol City Council and the management of Imperial Sports Ground.

“We seek a swift resolution to this issue by whatever means possible. If necessary we would urge the authorities to take enforcement action.”

A spokesperson for Avon & Somerset Police said: “We received a number of calls on Thursday (July 27) in relation to an unauthorised encampment on playing fields in Sturminster Road. The first call was received at about 7.10pm.

“Officers attended to help prevent a breach of the peace. The local neighbourhood team has been made aware.”