milton keynes council travellers

Oakgrove School in Milton Keynes closed today after Travellers arrive on premises

Parents and pupils were informed of the closure late in the evening

• 10:37, 11 JUL 2022
• Updated 14:58, 11 JUL 2022

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A secondary school in Buckinghamshire has had to abruptly close its doors to pupils today (Monday, July 11). Students are having to study remotely after a group of Travellers set up on the premises.

Oakgrove Secondary School in Milton Keynes is shut to pupils as a result. However, the school's management hopes that it will reopen tomorrow, Tuesday, July 12.

The school , which is run by the Kingsbridge Educational Trust, issued a short statement on its website on Sunday, July 10. A spokesperson said on the website the school was shut due to "unforeseen circumstances"

Read more: Milton Keynes flat fire sees homes evacuated as emergency services tackle blaze

However, a spokesperson told Buckinghamshire Live that the Travellers gained entry to the school grounds on Friday, July 8. Buckinghamshire Live has contacted Milton Keynes Council for a statement regarding the situation.

There are two Traveller sites in Milton Keynes, situated at Calverton Road in Calverton and Willen Road in Willen. However, neither have transit pitches for the Traveller community to stop at legitimately and only have 18 residential pitches between them.

An Oakgrove School spokesperson said: "A group from the Travelling community entered the Oakgrove Secondary School site on Friday 8 July. The school informed the relevant authorities.

"In line with the school’s safeguarding policy, parents and staff were advised that Oakgrove will be closed on Monday 11 July. Arrangements have been made for the students to work remotely.

"It is hoped that the school will re-open tomorrow. The school will keep parents and students updated."

Michelle Gavin, Development Manager at the charity Friends, Families and Travellers said: “There is a national chronic under-provision of suitable and safe stopping places for Romany or Traveller people passing through. More safe stopping places such as transit pitches are needed. No one wants their living situation to become a spectacle – everyone deserves the right to privacy.”

Are you affected by the school closure? Get in touch with us via email here.

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New police powers of arrest used against Traveller camp in Milton Keynes

Friends, Families and Travellers condemn “militarised” police response and reach out to any Traveller who was on the camp to please get in touch with them

The new Police powers have been used during a police raid against a Traveller camp of about 30 vehicles who had stopped on unauthorised land in Milton Keynes, Bucks, earlier this week.

The new law, which came into force on the 28th June, 2022, gives police the powers to arrest Travellers on a camp if they believe that the camp is ‘causing or likely to cause significant distress, damage and/or disturbance’ and the Travellers do not leave.

The new powers, section 60c – 62E of the amended Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, also allow police to seize vehicles, caravans, mobile homes and horse-drawn wagons belonging to anyone on the camp who refuses to leave, and those arrested could face a £2.5k fine and/or six months in prison if convicted.

Two men were arrested and at least four vehicles were impounded, according to news reports, but with the majority of those on the camp leaving “peacefully”.

The charity Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) have condemned the police raid and are asking for any Travellers involved to get in touch.

“We're aware of the extreme police response to a roadside camp in Milton Keynes, and are attempting to make contact with the families to check everyone is okay,” said FFT in a series of Tweets.

“Was such a militarised police response necessary?,” they added. “Were any alternative stopping places available, or offered?”

If you are a Traveller and were caught up in the police raid – or if you are affected by any other use of the new police powers anywhere else in England and Wales – then please contact FFT in confidence on: 01237 234777

Mike Doherty/TT News

(Photograph: Stock photograph of a Gypsy and Traveller camp near Appleby by Johanna Price)

Social Welfare Lawyers in the Centre of Birmingham

Adverse possession.

Milton Keynes Council v Nathan Wilsher and Persons Unknown [2022] EWHC 578 (QB), 23 March 2022.

The Claimant was the registered proprietor of Two Mile Ash Farm. The dispute concerned three fields ( ‘the Land’) that formed part of the land. The Claimant took action against the First Defendant as a trespasser. The First Defendant defended the action on the basis of adverse possession.

The relevant provisions of the Land Registration Act 2002 came into force on 13 October 2003. The First Defendant accepted that he could not satisfy the requirements of the 2002 Act so as to obtain registration on the basis of adverse possession since October 2003. However Mr Justice Eyre accepted on the evidence that the First Defendant and his father before him had been in adverse possession of the Land by grazing horses and other livestock for a period of at least 12 years before 13 October 2003.

Thanks to Tim Jones of No 5 Chambers, who acted for Mr Wilsher, for bringing this case to our attention.

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