![\"Caravans](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/0_Travellers_censored.jpg\")
Caravans at Swanshurst Park in Birmingham(Image: Nick Wilkinson\/Birmingham Live)<\/p>\nBirmingham City Council was initially set to introduce the pilot programme this monthCaravans at Swanshurst Park in Birmingham(Image: Nick Wilkinson\/Birmingham Live)<\/p>\n
Birmingham City Council has confirmed its plans to introduce temporary sites for travellers as part of a pilot programme have been pushed back.<\/p>\n
The authority<\/a> has said it is committed to introducing a “negotiated stopping” programme, which would involve an unused piece of land being used by those in the travelling community for \u201cshort term stays\u201d.<\/p>\n Work on this pilot started amid the council\u2019s ongoing difficulties with its transit sites, which are authorised areas where travellers can be directed to when in the city.<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Watch tense moment Birmingham council leader faces bins strike fury as man asks ‘would you’<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n They typically provide hard standing for holding caravans, a secure boundary and basic sanitary provision, while some also provide electricity.<\/p>\n But one of the council\u2019s two transit sites has suffered from repeated damage and vandalism while another has been home to \u201clong-term occupants\u201d.<\/p>\n Amid this backdrop, caravans have been spotted at a number of city parks and recreation grounds in a number of areas in recent weeks, including in Yardley<\/a>, Billesley<\/a> and Kings Heath<\/a>.<\/p>\n A public protection committee heard back in March that a consultation with communities and businesses where negotiated stopping sites are being proposed was set to take place in April and May this year.<\/p>\n The pilot would then have started the following month in June, according to a timetable published before the meeting.<\/p>\n But the city council confirmed this week that potential sites are still being identified and the consultation will therefore take place \u201clater in the year\u201d instead.<\/p>\n This means the start date of the pilot has been pushed back from June, as suggested in the timetable earlier this year.<\/p>\n \u201cThe council are looking to progress a negotiated stopping procedure to enable the identification of specific sites to direct gypsies and travellers to for short term stays,\u201d a spokesperson for the council said on Thursday, June 19.<\/p>\n \u201cCouncil officers are working to identify potential sites to be taken forward for consultation with local ward members, communities and businesses where the sites are being proposed.<\/p>\n \u201cConsultation feedback will inform the final list of sites to be taken forward for a 12-month trial period.\u201d<\/p>\n They went on to say that the council remains \u201ccommitted\u201d to undertaking the pilot and is continuing to identify potential sites, which will now be taken forward for consultation \u201clater in the year\u201d.<\/p>\n The council added that Leeds City Council operate a successful negotiated stopping procedure.<\/p>\n \u2018Significant costs to the council\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Birmingham](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1_JS311466113.jpg\")
Birmingham City Council(Image: Birmingham Live\/Martin O’Callaghan)<\/p>\n