Fury as travellers accused of flouting High Court injunction after land grab

Travellers who moved onto a wildlife site in an audacious “Bank Holiday land grab” have been accused by residents of flouting a High Court injunction by continuing with work at the site. Locals in Willows Green, near Felsted in Essex, plan to stage a protest tomorrow, declaring “enough is enough” over what they say is a disregard for planning rules.

They watched in horror as travellers moved onto a four-acre field on May 1, with 30 lorries laying hard-standing just hours after the council offices closed. Residents now say the council’s lack of enforcement is “embarrassing” as the travellers apply for retrospective planning permission to install 12 mobile homes. The injunction was imposed in June, but residents claim development has continued and are demanding the council take further action.

A Willows Green Action Group spokesperson said: “For four months, residents have watched an unauthorised development become increasingly established while the council has failed to take the decisive action its own legal orders appeared to make possible.

“The lack of action, lack of accountability and lack of effective enforcement is embarrassing for Uttlesford District Council.

“Residents have gathered evidence, reported suspected breaches and repeatedly asked for intervention, but the community is still waiting for a meaningful resolution.

“This protest is about saying that enough is enough. Planning rules must apply equally to everyone, and court orders must mean something.

“We are asking the council to explain publicly what it has done, what it has failed to do and exactly when effective enforcement action will now take place.”

The demonstration follows four months of mounting anger over what residents describe as a gross failure to take effective enforcement action against the unauthorised development of agricultural land.

The unauthorised works began during the Early May Bank Holiday weekend, between May 1 and 4, on land which is home to great-crested newts and rare albino fallow deer.

It comes as Hertfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner said police should be given emergency powers to stop serious unauthorised development.

Jonathan Ash-Edwards said: “If someone knowingly waits for a Bank Holiday, arrives with heavy machinery and carries out rapid, substantial works specifically to get ahead of enforcement, I believe that should become a criminal offence.

“The principle is straightforward, nobody should be able to game the planning system by ripping up our countryside first and asking for permission later.”

Uttlesford District Council said the application was validated on August 26, seeking the change of use for 12 gypsy/traveller pitches.

The application covers mobile homes, touring caravans, day rooms, access roads, utility infrastructure and landscaping.

The Willows Green Action Group will protest outside Uttlesford District Council’s offices on September 3, ahead of a meeting of the council’s Scrutiny Committee.

Residents reported extensive engineering works, the laying of hardstanding and the arrival of caravans and mobile homes on land which had no planning permission for residential development.

Uttlesford District Council served a Temporary Stop Notice on May 5, which came into effect the following morning.

The council then secured an interim High Court injunction on May 7, banning further development and residential occupation.

That injunction was subsequently made permanent in June. However, residents claim development and residential use of the land have continued.

Despite repeatedly supplying evidence and raising concerns, residents say they have seen no meaningful enforcement action capable of bringing the unauthorised use to an end.

Local resident Tracy Williams previously said: “We feel we’ve been let down by the people who should be helping and supporting us.

“We pay our council taxes and we submit our planning in the right way. Doing nothing is not helpful – we should be proactive not reactive.”

Residents say the contrast with the response to a recent unauthorised development at Sheering Mill Lane in Sawbridgeworth, Hertsfordshire, has further fuelled their frustration.

The group added: “Nobody is suggesting that every enforcement case is identical, but residents cannot ignore the stark difference in urgency.

“East Herts acted over a Bank Holiday weekend, returned to court when its first order was not respected and worked with the police to secure a swift outcome.

“At Willows Green, residents have been living with an apparently continuing unauthorised development since the first May Bank Holiday.

“Uttlesford residents deserve the same determination, urgency and visible leadership. We need action, not more explanations for delay.”

An Uttlesford District Council spokesperson said today (02/09): “We recognise that residents feel strongly about this issue and fully respect their right to take part in peaceful protest and to make their views known.

“The council has made clear its position in previous statements and continues to pursue this matter through the appropriate legal and planning processes. As proceedings are ongoing and future action may be dependent on court decisions, it would not be appropriate for the council to comment on, or speculate about, potential enforcement measures. Doing so could prejudice current or future legal proceedings.

“We understand the frustration felt by local residents and remain committed to using the powers available to us to address unauthorised development in accordance with the law. Further updates will be provided when it is appropriate and lawful to do so.”