Residents in Buckinghamshire are engaged in a persistent conflict with traveler families who repeatedly establish encampments on illegal sites, often returning just months after being ordered to leave. This recurring issue impacts car parks, lay-bys, and fields across the county, leading to significant frustration among locals and considerable expense for taxpayers.
One particularly affected area is The Rye in High Wycombe, a park that has become a focal point for the ongoing problem. Despite repeated enforcement actions by Buckinghamshire Council, residents report that the issue remains unresolved. Figures obtained by the Daily Mail show that the council spent £3,702 removing one unauthorized encampment from The Rye over two days in 2025. However, locals indicate that the site has been a favored location for travelers for years, necessitating legal action such as injunctions for removal.
Buckinghamshire has seen a notable increase in the number of caravans over the past two years. Residents shared their weariness with the cycle of encampments, noting the prolonged periods it can take to clear some sites. "It feels like they are always coming back," said Amy, a lifelong resident of High Wycombe. "They go to lots of places across Buckinghamshire. Anywhere they get into - car parks, fields, anything - they will park up."
Concerns extend beyond the mere presence of encampments, with residents reporting increased pressure on communities and council resources, including instances of littering and anti-social behavior. Linda, a grandmother, recounted witnessing anti-social behavior and shoplifting from young travelers while working at a cosmetic store in High Wycombe. Another local resident described an encampment on the outskirts of High Wycombe that took a week to clear, noting that the group arrived before a weekend, which delayed official action. The site was reportedly left in a state of disarray, with discarded metal and broken chairs.
Groups have been observed arriving on Friday evenings or before bank holiday weekends, making it more difficult for councils to initiate legal proceedings before the start of the following week. In February of this year, the council secured a High Court injunction to remove unauthorized mobile homes on Easter Weekend after caravans were illegally moved onto green belt land near Chesham. The group had arrived on a Thursday evening, and by Friday, the council observed multiple men, trade vehicles, and evidence of caravans and works on the site.
The Rye, where the average house price is approximately £700,000, is not an isolated case. Twenty miles away, a lay-by known locally as 'Gypsy Lane' has been a frequent site for traveler encampments for decades. Freedom of Information requests revealed that Buckinghamshire Council spent £556 and took 21 days to resolve an encampment at this site in 2025. Despite this, travelers returned the same year, requiring removal after two days at a cost of £886.
Steve Turner, a local who has fished near Stoke Hammond for years, noted the consistency of the issue. "They have been coming here for more than twenty years," he said. "They come down all the time. It is a constant thing. It has been called 'Gypsy Lane' for the last thirty to forty years." He observed an increase in encampments over time, with groups appearing rapidly and often outnumbering initial observers. While acknowledging the council's speed in removing encampments, he added, "But they drive away and then just come back." Piles of litter are frequently left behind, detracting from the area's natural appeal.
Reported fly-tipping incidents on public land across Buckinghamshire increased from 3,293 in 2022/2023 to 4,272 in 2023/2024. Greg Noble, a resident, expressed his dismay: "Nothing seems to be happening about the ongoing issue of them coming back. The impact of this is definitely felt by locals. It shouldn't happen."
A Buckinghamshire Council spokesperson stated that the county "experiences relatively low levels of unauthorized encampments" and that they "take concerns raised by residents seriously and take appropriate action in line with our legal responsibilities and the circumstances of each case."
However, some residents have taken measures to protect their properties. Martin Moore from Marlow described instances where people have resorted to installing barriers around their land to prevent traveler groups from entering. The cost of removing illegal encampments remains a significant concern. In addition to the £3,702 spent at The Rye, £3,206 was spent clearing an encampment from a car park in Chalfont St Peter during a single-day operation in 2024. Chalfont St Peter, where the average house price is £800,000, has also been a center for debate regarding encampments and alleged anti-social behavior. In February, the council granted retrospective planning permission for a four-pitch traveler site on green belt land, after caravans had already been established there without consent, a decision attributed to the council's legal obligation to assess accommodation needs for Gypsy and traveler communities. Umair Mohammed, an employee at a store in Chalfont St Peter, reported that his staff had experienced physical abuse and had drinks thrown at them. Thames Valley Police stated their commitment to tackling shoplifting and retail crime in the region.
As the August Bank Holiday approaches, residents in the affected areas express little confidence that the problem will be resolved in the near future.