Travellers bulldoze field with ‘20 lorries’ in ANOTHER Bank Holiday ‘land grab’ – after police stand-off 40 miles away

TRAVELLERS have bulldozed a field in an attempted Bank Holiday weekend land grab after a police stand-off unfolded just forty miles away. As council offices closed for the long weekend on Friday, travellers set to work building an encampment on privately owned land in Rochford, Essex. The council said it would continue to monitor the site Credit: SWNS Locals said around 20 lorries had been arriving over the weekend as work got underway at the site Credit: SWNS Locals said the work ruined their long weekend with some 20 lorries arriving and construction work carrying on all weekend. The local authority has said it issued a stop notice on Saturday but it was ignored and construction at the traveller site continued anyway. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Council officers have since visited the site to assess the building, collect evidence and serve a stop notice – police were present when the notice was handed over. According to Rochford District Council the notice was the quickest way to stop building because the landlord had granted permission to the travellers. Work began on the site as council offices closed on Friday for the long weekend Credit: SWNS Officers served the travellers with a stop notice in the presence of police Credit: SWNS Further action will be considered under planning law, while council officers said the site would continue to be monitored. One resident said: “If they had planning permission, it wouldn’t be a problem, but they have zero planning permission. Everyone else has to abide by the planning rules. “They have been working there all night on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It’s heartbreaking for everyone who lives in the area.” Another added: “It’s worrying. Since Friday it’s been horrendous. On Saturday there must have been around twenty lorries from various companies. Most read in The Sun “It’s been a horrendous weekend. We heard them working on it all night. Our concern is about them doing this illegally. You shouldn’t carry on if there is a stop order. “They just came along and did what they want.” Leader of Rochford District Council Adi Malviya said: “The Council are aware of unauthorised development on privately owned land at Lower Road/Greensward Lane. “This is a planning enforcement issue, which means the same procedures cannot be used as they would be for an unauthorised incursion on council land.” It follows another Bank Holiday land grab just forty miles away that saw workers begin to put in fences and lay hardcore and pipes on a wetland and nature reserve in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire. Up to 100 locals watched over the wildlife area — less than a mile from Sir Rod Stewart’s £4.65million mansion — after diggers turned up at the weekend. The travellers had recently bought three fields in the area and ignored a temporary stop notice from East Hertfordshire District Council on Saturday. They also refused access to Environment Agency officials concerned by the effect of pipework on the nearby River Stort. Residents monitored the site through Sunday night as the council sought an injunction — and when the workers returned police were called. Locals said officers threatened the travellers with arrest if work continued — thanks to a sweeping High Court injunction that banned further development and caravans or mobile homes being occupied. One Hertfordshire resident said: “It was a festival atmosphere overnight. “We were warned not to interfere when the travellers came back, just to let them start working but tell the police as soon as the injunction was broken. “They came and turfed them out quickly and they say they will now keep guard.” 2 comments2