Traveller encampment remains at Moss Bank Park after order to leave

Around 10 caravans moved onto the Johnson Fold side of the popular park on Sunday (July 19).

Bolton Council officers visited the site the following day, carried out welfare checks and served directions to leave the land under Section 77 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

The authority previously said it would return after 24 hours to check whether the directions had been complied with and, if not, begin legal proceedings to obtain a court order requiring the group to leave.

Also at Moss Bank Park, the funfair confirmed it was closed today (July 25) following what the business described as incidents of antisocial behaviour involving children.

The family-run attraction said staff and customer safety had to take priority and apologised for the inconvenience caused.

Moss Bank Park funfair was closed today (Image: NQ)

Run by Moss Bank Park Amusements, the funfair had planned to launch a summer promotion offering unlimited rides for two hours for £5 this weekend.

No date has yet been confirmed for when the attraction will reopen.

The latest Traveller encampment comes just days after another unauthorised camp at Moss Bank Park, which was removed quickly earlier this month.

Traveller encampment today, July 25 (Image: NQ)

Earlier this year, Bolton Council installed barriers at entrances to Longsight Park in Harwood following repeated unauthorised encampments and concerns about antisocial behaviour.

A Freedom of Information request submitted by The Bolton News also revealed the council has spent more than £19,000 removing unauthorised Traveller encampments from council-owned land over the past two years.

The figures show the authority spent £16,926.90 during 2024-25 and a further £2,430 during 2025-26. No costs were recorded during 2023-24.

Traveller encampment (Image: NQ)

Unauthorised encampments on private land are generally the responsibility of the landowner, while Gypsies and Travellers are protected from discrimination under equality legislation.

The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful to treat someone less favourably because of a range of protected characteristics, including colour, race, nationality, and ethnic or national origins.

Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers have protected status under equality legislation.

Any criminal activity or anti-social behaviour should be reported to police via the non-emergency 101 number.

For further information, residents can email housingservices@bolton.gov.uk or call 01204 338721.