Caravans relocate from club pitch to field beside Redcar Racecourse
A group of caravans and towing vehicles which had been camped on Redcar Athletic’s football pitches have been moved a short distance to a field at the foot of Redcar Racecourse after local authority intervention.
Cleveland Police and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council acted following a court order requiring the occupants to leave the club’s land. About 12 to 15 vehicles were reported to have left the playing fields on Thursday morning and set up on council-owned land adjacent to the racecourse and close to the Primary Care Hospital.
Club officials said the encampment had forced the cancellation of planned activities. The president of Redcar Athletic described the past few days as “a very challenging few days” and said volunteers and officials were now inspecting the site to establish the extent of any damage.
“We are now busy assessing the facilities and ensuring that it is safe for activities to return to the site. We do know that damage has occurred but we can't comment on specific damage until we have had the opportunity to take a proper look.”
The council told local media the land beside the racecourse was publicly owned and that the encampment had been given a further notice to vacate by 18:00 BST on Friday. A spokesperson described the location as “deemed to be an unacceptable location”.
Local impact and next steps
The immediate consequence for the community is the temporary loss of use of the football club’s pitches. Redcar Athletic is a focal point for grassroots sport in the area; the disruption has affected training and fixtures while volunteers inspect the ground for safety and repairs.
Residents and visitors may notice increased council and police presence while the authority seeks to enforce removal from the racecourse-adjacent land. The relocation also places the encampment closer to public services and pathways used by other local groups.
- Vehicles involved: Approximately 12–15 caravans and towing units.
- Original site: Redcar Athletic football pitches.
- Current site: Field at the foot of Redcar Racecourse, near the Primary Care Hospital.
- Council action: New notice to leave by 18:00 BST on Friday.
Law, council land and community tensions
The situation highlights the tensions that can arise when mobile groups use public or community sporting land. Local authorities hold powers to seek possession through the courts where encampments impede facilities or are judged unsuitable. Here, the council moved to enforce a court order and then promptly issued another notice when the group relocated onto its own land.
The borough council has responsibility for the field beside the racecourse and said it would take action if the site remained occupied beyond the notice period. For the football club, attention now turns to repairing any damage and restoring safe access for players, volunteers and visiting teams.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vehicles | ~12–15 caravans |
| Original location | Redcar Athletic pitches |
| New location | Field beside Redcar Racecourse, near Primary Care Hospital |
| Council action | Notice to leave by 18:00 BST on Friday |
For local people, the story will raise familiar questions about the protection of community sports facilities, the management of public land and the welfare and rights of those travelling in caravans. The council has signalled it will seek removal if the group does not comply with the latest notice; the club is awaiting a full assessment of the pitches before confirming when activities can resume.
We will continue to monitor developments, including the council’s next steps and the outcome of the club’s inspection of the grounds.
