Egmanton residents share concerns with councils at public meeting after large, unlawfully developed, Traveller site springs up

Villagers have spoken of their fear and upset after a unlawfully developed Traveller site sprang up in a field near their homes.

A large caravan site — with tarmacadam roads, fences, and 40 pitches — was constructed on land between Egmanton and Weston over the bank holiday weekend.

An enforcement notice was served on the site yesterday, ordering it to be vacated by May 30 and returned to its original state within 90 days after this — unless a valid planning application or appeal is submitted.

At a public meeting held in the village yesterday (April 24), residents spoke of the fear the development had sparked — with some reporting having been subject to verbal abuse, been driven at, charged at, and been stopped in the road.

As well as roads built on the site, they said they had also seen septic tanks sunk, electricity and water illegitimately connected, and important drainage dykes filled to create the site access.

In a statement met with applause from fellow residents, one said: “The whole site, infrastructure wise, is not suitable.

“There’s 40 caravans, so maybe 160 people — we don’t have a shop, we don’t have buses, the school can’t take them. At the last census there was only around 200 people in Egmanton.

“What are they going to do? It’ll increase stress on services, and they’ll be bored and get into anti-social behaviour and it will increase stress on the police.

“There’s been noise and light pollution all night, and intimidation. When I first came here I never felt so safe — I daren’t leave my house because of this. I can’t take it.”

Another added: “It’s upsetting. Every minute of every day you’re thinking what’s going on, what am I coming home to? Will the roads be blocked, will there be rubbish?”

Newark and Sherwood District Council representatives were among those at the meeting, alongside a county council representative, and representatives from nearby parish councils.

One of the district council’s representatives offered assurances it was being taken “extremely seriously”, and that they understood residents’ frustrations with the site and the process.

Other residents said they had installed CCTV, were a “bit nervous going to bed at night” and felt “edgy” about the level of calculated planning and money which appeared to have gone into the site.

Another added: “These people turned up with a 60-tonne bulldozer and excavators. It was unbelievable.”

Concern was raised that this level of development wouldn’t have been carried out by the Travellers — who own the land and are believed to have come from outside the district — if they didn’t believe they would be able to stay permanently.

Residents were told there was an attempt to submit a planning application for the development on Thursday, April 17, but it was not a valid application due to missing documents.

“They must think they have a case. I would be amazed if they didn’t appeal,” one of the district’s representatives added.

They admitted there was a chance planning permission could be granted — since a valid retrospective application could be submitted — but that the council would not have even served an enforcement notice if it didn’t believe it had a case against the development, as in this case as it is felt to be “harmful and a breach of planning control” and the scale of the development not appropriate.

Additionally, if the enforcement was appealed, it was stated the council was committed to spending the potential six-figure sum on a public enquiry or court costs to ensure the issue is heard.

Either an appeal or valid planning application would see the enforcement process halted until it was dealt with.

A representative added: “We’re prepared to stick our neck out over this, if there is a cost to the council so be it.

“We didn’t encourage this [development] and we don’t want this to happen.”

The county council representative added that the scale of the site was the Travellers’ “biggest mistake” as it meant a blind eye could not be turned to it.

Residents were also assured the district council was exploring other enforcement options for the site.

Other assurances were given that residents could expect more patrols from community protection officers, that concerns would also be shared with police colleagues, and that highways and utility companies’ enforcement officers would be requested to attend to see evidence of breaches in those areas.

Residents were also encouraged to continue reporting any issues they see, to ensure a full record of evidence.