The leader of the city council has condemned the “unacceptable” behaviour of a group of Travellers in Oxford.

A large encampment of caravans arrived at South Park at around 8pm on Tuesday evening (August 13) and were issued with an evacuation notice by Oxford City Council to leave by 10am on Thursday.

The group left South Park on Wednesday evening (August 14) at around 4pm before pitching up at Oxford City football club.

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Oxford City Football Club was forced to close but has since reopened this morning (Thursday, August 15) after the Traveller group has left the county.

Multiple police cars and a police van arrived at the scene just off St Clement's Street on Wednesday afternoon to keep watch on the group in the park. 

Householders near the park were left shocked as Travellers allegedly drove trucks and work vans around the site and performed donuts.

Officers were also called to the football club but the force has said no criminal offences or anti-social behaviour has been reported from either of these encampments.

Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council, confirmed the sites have been cleared and broken locks have been fixed.

She said: “The Travellers have now left Oxford and the county. 

“I’d like to say a big thank you to the city council and Thames Valley Police officers for their quick and professional approach in handling this situation.

Police cars at South Park Police cars at South Park (Image: Newsquest)

“The sites have been cleared and re-secured, including replacing broken locks, and we’re working with Oxford City FC and our parks teams to minimise the risk of this happening again.

“The group’s behaviour in South Park and towards the public and staff at Court Place Farm was unacceptable and we will not tolerate it.

“The safety and well-being of local people will always be our priority, and we will do what we can to resolve situations like this quickly and prevent them from happening again.”

A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said: “Thames Valley Police were made aware of an unauthorised encampment in South Park on Tuesday.

“Working alongside the landowners, Oxford City Council, and those who were residing at the location, we can confirm that 60c notice was served on the encampment which then moved on to Oxford City Football Club.

“We then worked alongside the council and Oxford City and we can now confirm that the unauthorised encampment has left Oxfordshire.

“No criminal offences or anti-social behaviour has been reported linked to either of these encampments.

“We would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding whilst officers responded to the issue.”

Oxford Round Table has helped with the cleaning up efforts at South Park. 

Oxford Round Table helps to clear up mess from South Park Oxford Round Table helps to clear up mess from South Park (Image: Contributed)
John Worsford, chairman of Oxford Round Table, said: "We were delighted to be able to help.

"A quick rally call at short notice to the group, and a handful of us got down there to clear up the mess left behind.

"Thanks to Friends of South Park group for their regular updates, and also to Sal Naqvi for real-time information so we could get onto the park quickly to clear up once the Travellers had all left."