Farm shop uses staff to stop invasion of travellers

A BIRMINGHAM farm shop and restaurant had to resort to employing its own staff to thwart travellers from setting up camp in the car park.

At least three caravans turned up at Becketts Farm, in Wythall, last Wednesday afternoon but employees prevented further vehicles from entering the Alcester Lane site.

The business, just off Junction 3 of the M42, has been based on the site for 80 years.

It has an award-winning farm shop, family restaurant, conference and meeting facilities as well as a cookery school.

A spokeswoman confirmed that the family business had its own team in place to stop any further incursions onto the car park.

Birmingham and the wider West Midlands has seen a rise in illegal traveller camps in recent months. The problem has become so serious that the council has secured an injunction banning travellers from four hard-hit city parks.

It means that travellers turning up at Perry Park, Selly Oak Park, Selly Park Recreation Ground and Stirchley’s Hazelwell Park can face immediate action.

Until now, council bosses have only been able to issue 48-hour eviction notices.

The council is also currently planning a new official traveller site at an under-used recycling facility in Bromford Drive, Hodge Hill.

Last Friday, a convoy of travellers smashed their way into a park at Bloxwich – just days before the school summer holidays begin.

Around 25 caravans and other vehicles invaded King George V playing fields, forcing the cancellation of football matches and a popular junior park run.