Travellers Relocate to Littlehampton Tesco Car Park Following Council Enforcement Action
Photo: Eddie Mitchell
Introduction
A significant group of travellers has established an unauthorized encampment at a Tesco supermarket car park in Littlehampton, West Sussex, after being moved from a nearby public park. The situation highlights ongoing challenges faced by local authorities and businesses in managing unauthorized encampments while balancing legal responsibilities and community concerns.
Current Situation
As of April 10, 2025, approximately 19 caravans along with several vans and cars are currently stationed in the Tesco superstore car park on Broad Piece in Wick, Littlehampton. According to aerial photographs and eyewitness accounts, the travellers arrived yesterday after leaving Rosemead Park following enforcement action by local authorities Daily Mail1.
Despite the significant space occupied by the encampment, a Tesco spokesperson has confirmed that both the store and car park remain open as usual for customers The Argus2.
Previous Location and Enforcement Action
Prior to relocating to the Tesco car park, the group had established an unauthorized encampment at Rosemead Park in Littlehampton. Up to 18 caravans and motorhomes were reported at this location, which is owned by Littlehampton Town Council Sussex Express3.
Sussex Police intervened at Rosemead Park, issuing a notice that required the occupants to leave the site by 10am on Wednesday, April 9. This action was taken using statutory powers in response to reported concerns from the community Daily Mail1.
Following the enforcement action, Littlehampton Town Council representatives inspected the park and confirmed that:
"Following enforcement action the unauthorised encampment at Rosemead Park has now departed. The site has been checked and is now clean and open for public use," according to a statement released on social media Sussex Express3.
Current Authority Response
The relocation of the travellers to private property has shifted responsibility for further action. A spokesperson for Arun District Council stated:
"We can confirm that travellers have moved to the car park at Tesco, Littlehampton. As this is private land it will be Tesco's responsibility to instigate the appropriate action" Sussex Express3.
This statement highlights the complex jurisdictional issues surrounding unauthorized encampments, where different procedures apply depending on whether the land is publicly or privately owned.
Preventative Measures
In response to this incident, Littlehampton Town Council has announced both immediate and long-term preventative measures for Rosemead Park:
"We are currently collaborating with Boklok to install temporary concrete barriers within the next few days as an immediate security measure. Work on more permanent preventative solutions will follow in due course" Daily Mail1.
These measures reflect a growing trend of physical barriers being installed in public spaces that have experienced unauthorized encampments. Similar actions have been taken in other areas, including Wilson Avenue in Brighton, where barriers were installed after repeated incidents The Argus4.
Legal Context
The management of unauthorized encampments in the UK involves a complex legal framework, with different processes for public and private land. When encampments occur on public land, local authorities and police have specific powers under various acts including the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
However, when encampments move to private property, as in this case, the primary responsibility for taking legal action generally falls to the landowner. This typically involves seeking a possession order through the courts, which can be a more time-consuming process than the powers available to public authorities [implied from the Arun District Council statement].
Community Impact
While the articles don't directly quote local residents, unauthorized encampments often raise community concerns regarding access to public facilities, potential environmental impact, and shared use of resources. The quick action by authorities to clear Rosemead Park and ensure it was "clean and open for public use" indicates an awareness of these community considerations.
For businesses like Tesco, unauthorized encampments in their car parks present operational challenges, potentially affecting customer access and the shopping experience, though in this case the store has maintained normal operations.
Conclusion
This situation in Littlehampton illustrates the ongoing challenges faced by local authorities and businesses in managing unauthorized encampments. While enforcement actions successfully cleared the public park, the subsequent relocation to private property demonstrates how these issues often shift rather than resolve completely.
The preventative measures being implemented at Rosemead Park represent a proactive approach to preventing future encampments, though such physical barriers are just one component of addressing the complex social, legal, and community aspects surrounding traveller encampments in the UK.
As the situation continues to develop, the focus now shifts to Tesco and what actions the company might take regarding the current encampment on their property.
This blog post was compiled using reporting from the Daily Mail, The Argus, and Sussex Express as of April 10, 2025.
