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A group of travelers have forcibly entered an affluent park in north London, setting up as many as 15 caravans close to multi-million-pound residences.
Coldfall Wood, located in the serene area of Muswell Hill, has become the latest location to experience an influx of travelers, as shown in images depicting several vehicles parked on the lawn.
Amid the caravans and cars, camping chairs are seen to have been set up, while dogs freely roam the 35-acre public park.
At the same time, signs of tampering are visible on the entrance locks of the ancient woodland, indicating that the travelers forced their way into the property.
Outside the park entrance, the words ‘keep clear of the gate’ are written in chalk on the pavement; however, it remains unclear whether this message was inscribed before or after the travelers arrived.
Coldfall Wood, designated as a ‘local nature reserve’ and adjacent to open playing fields, is bordered by the St Pancras and Islington Cemetery and the East Finchley public allotments.
An image caption states that a group of travelers have broken down locks and invaded an affluent north London park, illegally positioning about 15 caravans next to high-value homes.
Coldfall Wood in the leafy suburb of Muswell Hill has become the latest site to become overrun with travellers, with images showing several vehicles parked up on the grass
Elsewhere, in Muswell Hill, two youngsters, believed to be travellers, were seen being transported by horse and cart
Amid the caravans and cars, camping chairs are seen to have been set up, while dogs freely roam the 35-acre public park
Described as a ‘local nature reserve’ and set next to open playing fields, Coldfall Wood is surrounded by St Pancras and Islington Cemetery, alongside the East Finchley public allotments
Meanwhile, the affluent residential streets of Creighton Avenue and Barrenger Road overlook the woodlands.
Featuring large detached properties marketed in the millions, the picturesque suburb is home to a number of celebrities that include the likes of James McAvoy, Peter Capaldi, John Savident and Masterchefs’s John Torode.
But now, it appears to have become the latest site filled with travellers- as wheelbarrows lay abandoned by the unknown group.
In 2018, nearby Albert Road Recreational Ground also became subject to an illegal traveller site, with three caravans, a camper van and Ford Transit spotted parked on the grass just yards from a children’s playground.
One twitter user asked the local council: ‘What’s the plan re: taking enforcement action against the Travellers at the Albert Road Recreational Ground?’
It comes as the number of ‘illegal’ traveller sites being set up across the UK is on the rise as local councils are becoming increasingly unable to remove them, a planning enforcement officer has claimed.
New planning policy announced by Labour housing secretary Angela Rayner in December will force councils to release green belt land for travellers to create permanent encampments if there is an ‘unmet need’.
Meanwhile, locks into the entrance of the ancient woodland appear to have been tampered with, suggesting that the group of travellers have broken into the site
Outside of the entrance to the leafy park, ‘keep clear of the gate’ is written in chalk on the ground, though it is unknown whether this was written prior to the travellers descending on the leafy park
At present neither temporary or permanent travellers sites are allowed on green belt land as they fail to qualify as ‘very special circumstances’ – but that is about to change.
In the original consultation published to the National Planning Policy Framework in August, the document states: ‘We intend our proposals to support the release of green belt land to address unmet needs for traveller sites.’
The response to the consultation, published in December, made clear that proposals should not be regarded as ‘inappropriate’ in cases where there is an ‘unmet need’ for the type of development – including traveller sites.
In January this year South Gloucestershire Council announced the location of 100 new traveller sites, many of them on greenbelt sites.
The plan also includes safeguarding 15 existing sites for travelling showpeople – and one new site for travelling showpeople in Pucklechurch.
The local authority was reprimanded by a government planning inspector back in 2022 for a ‘history of policy failure’ after failing to provide sufficient land for travelling communities.
Haringey Council has been approached for comment.
