Latest news with #greenbelt
The Sun
2 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Our picturesque countryside became an eyesore ‘concrete jungle' in 72 HOURS thanks to fleet of caravans
NEIGHBOURS claim their picturesque countryside village became a "concrete jungle"' just 72 hours after a fleet of caravans moved in. The plot of land in Burtonwood, Cheshire has been completely transformed after diggers and excavators moved on to the site last month. 3 3 Work began at 6pm on May 23 - just hours after the sale of the six-acre site was approved. Locals reported that excavators and tipper trucks were working through the night to convert the once-green field into a gravel caravan site. The work was conducted on greenbelt land without planning permission, leaving residents frustrated. During three days of unauthorised work, half the field was covered in hardcore, and a 10ft-high wooden fence was erected around the boundary. Since then, over a dozen caravans and other vehicles have moved onto the site. Given its status as a greenbelt, residents have complained that the land should be used solely for agricultural purposes. While the new inhabitants have filed a retrospective planning application, Warrington Borough Councillor Stuart Mann has confirmed that an investigation has been launched. Mann told the Mail that he had received 'hundreds' of emails while more than 50 people turned up to his surgery to complain. Locals also vented their concerns on social media. Shocking moment biker yob drags hero cop down road after fleeing during arrest for doing wheelies in town-centre One wrote:"Breach!? It's a s****** concrete jungle!!!!" Another added: "Blame the person who sold the land to them in the first place. Stuart has raised the issue with the chief executive of Warrington Borough Council, as well as the MP for Warrington North. He said: "I have received, from borough council planning and enforcement teams, that a retrospective planning application has been received, but that it is yet to be validated. "Any such application has to be determined on its relative merits. "This will take a number of weeks." Vice chairman of Burtonwood and Westbrook Parish Council Nigel Catlow described it as a "very serious and fast-moving issue." Writing to the council he said: "The landowners appear to be in serious breach, making the most of the Bank Holiday and the council being on a long weekend. "This is of great concern to many residents and council taxpayers in Burtonwood and the wider area of Warrington West." An enforcement notice has been taken to the site, but Stuart said it could take weeks for the issue to be resolved. It is particularly difficult as Stuart highlighted that it is "important for it to be known the people who have done this own the land." Commenters on the article shared similar incidents in their own villages as one said: "We've had a similar situation and it is now years down the line and the council seem to find it impossible to do anything about it." Others were less sympathetic, using it as an opportunity to mock the council's lack of effiency. One said: "They sound like better organisers than most councils and government departments." Cheshire Police and Scottish Power have also been informed. 3
Telegraph
3 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Travellers turn Cheshire green belt field into car park in 72 hours
A group of travellers have caused outrage after parking on a six-acre green belt field and turning it into a gravel car park within 72 hours. Bulldozers, excavators and HGVs moved onto the plot on the outskirts of Burtonwood, Cheshire, and started the unauthorised work over the bank holiday weekend at the end of last month. It is believed the travellers bought the land, with caravans and associated vehicles being moved onto the site on May 23. In three days, a 10ft-high wooden fence was erected along the boundary, and half the field was covered in hardcore and gravel. Around 13 caravans, four vans, a digger and three cars were parked on the hardcore earlier this week. Following the unauthorised work, a retrospective planning application was submitted to the local council. Warrington borough council launched an investigation after concerns were raised by nearby residents. An enforcement notice has also been submitted by officials. 'The transformation is shocking' Ward councillors Stuart Mann and Kevin Burgess had reported concerns to Cheshire Police and Warrington borough council over possible planning breaches. ScottishPower was also asked to conduct an emergency investigation into a possible attempt to tap into the mains supply. The council said it would 'take strong enforcement action within the legal framework' and that 'this has already commenced'. Cllr Mann said: 'It is important for it to be known that the people who have done this own the land. Concerns have been raised, and the council needs to ensure that necessary checks and balances have been put in place.' Locals took to Facebook to express their concerns, with one saying: 'The transformation is shocking.' Another said: 'It seems they ain't going anywhere. Hopefully, they are good neighbours.' A third added: 'They are obviously wanting privacy – the speed that the border fence has been erected is phenomenal.' Villagers said excavators were digging up half of the field and removing the earth in tipper trucks between the bank holiday's Friday and Sunday. They also told how work went on continuously over the three days. The plot is on Farmers Lane, at the Tan House Lane junction, with locals saying the land was green belt and for agricultural use only. Travellers are an ethnic minority group and are protected under equality legislation. Commenting on the situation, Cllr Mann said: 'I would like to thank residents for their patience and support, as well as the many emails and calls I have received. 'As matters are now involving a formal and legal process, and to maintain independence of any application and investigation, I am unable to share anything more than is stated below. 'I have met with the chief executive of Warrington borough council and the MP for Warrington North to raise our ongoing concerns regarding the development on Farmers Lane. 'I have received, from the borough council planning and enforcement teams, that a retrospective planning application has been received, but that it is yet to be validated. Any such application has to be determined on its relative merits. This will take a number of weeks. 'Information will be gathered as part of this process, which will inform the enforcement position.' Warrington borough council also said it had 'established a priority enforcement case' over the situation in Burtonwood.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Outrage after travellers destroy greenbelt field and turn it into 'concrete jungle' without planning permission in less than 72 hours
A group of travellers have provoked outrage after they razed a field on greenbelt land without planning permission and turned it into a gravel car park - in just 72 hours. Diggers and excavators moved onto the plot, in the village of Burtonwood, near Warrington, Cheshire, and started the unauthorised work over the Bank Holiday weekend last month. They covered half the field in hardcore and also erected a 10ft-high wooden fence around the boundary. It is understood the travellers bought the six-acre site legitimately and the sale went through on Friday May 23. Work began just hours later, at 6pm that evening, and villagers reported excavators and tipper trucks working through the night to remove soil and replace it with concrete, completing the job in less than three days. Before and after aerial photographs show the extent of the destruction and more than a dozen caravans and other vehicles have since moved onto the site. Although a retrospective planning application has now been submitted to Warrington Borough Council, local councillor Stuart Mann confirmed an investigation had been launched following complaints from local residents, who say the land is green belt and should be for agricultural use only. Mr Mann said he had received 'hundreds' of emails and more than 50 people turned up at his surgery to express concerns about the development. He confirmed planners had issued an enforcement notice to the travellers but admitted the issue could take weeks to resolve. Cheshire police and Scottish Power, who supply electricity to the area and investigate unauthorised attempts to tap into the mains supply, have also been informed, he said. 'I have met with the chief executive of Warrington Borough Council and the MP for Warrington North to raise our ongoing concerns regarding the development on Farmers Lane,' he said. 'I have received, from borough council planning and enforcement teams, that a retrospective planning application has been received, but that it is yet to be validated. 'Any such application has to be determined on its relative merits. This will take a number of weeks.' Nigel Catlow, vice chairman, of Burtonwood and Westbrook Parish Council, described it as a 'very serious and fast-moving issue.' In a letter to the council, he said: 'The landowners appear to be in serious breach, making the most of the Bank Holiday and the council being on a long weekend. 'This is of great concern to many residents and council taxpayers in Burtonwood and the wider area of Warrington West.' Locals took to social media to express their concerns, with one saying: 'The transformation is shocking.' Another, Jacqui Worrall, wrote: 'Breach!?.. it's a s****** concrete jungle!!!!' While Ray Houghton added: 'Blame the person who sold the land to them in the first place. The people doing this have no respect for the laws.' Mr Mann said it was 'important for it to be known the people who have done this own the land.' 'Concerns have been raised and the council needs to ensure that necessary checks and balances have been put in place,' he added. A spokesman for Warrington Borough Council confirmed that it had 'established a priority enforcement case' over the situation in Burtonwood. 'We have received a report about a potential breach of planning on land off Farmers Lane in Burtonwood and are currently investigating the issue.'
CTV News
4 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Fanshawe students take home $75k prize for their design in the future of the greenbelt
A team of Fanshawe College students took home the top prize of $75,000 at a competition that hopes to shape the future of Ontario's greenbelt. The Melville Park Design Competition hosted by Longridge Partners asked students to submit landscape designs and business development plans for a site in Caledon, with the ideal submission creating an accessible, welcoming and economically viable use for the site, integrating the use of green space. 053125_longridge melville site fanshawe students design London A map of the Melville site (Source: Longridge Partners) The winning team from Fanshawe proposed a project they titled 'Echo Valley,' which envisioned a site integrating eco-lodges, wellness spas, sustainable trails and a 12-hole environmentally sensitive golf course. The design by students Bryar Pace, Jessi McLellan, Stuart MacGregor, Josh Barber, and Hannah Glinz could be implemented by the developer, but they also take home the top prize.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chris Packham: Chain yourself to trees or block a bulldozer to save green belt
Chris Packham has urged people to chain themselves to trees and sit in front of bulldozers if the Government's green belt planning reforms go through. The BBC presenter and campaigner accused Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves of creating a 'culture war' around bats and newts with plans that will line the pockets of developers. Packham said ordinary people must take radical action to preserve Britain's green belt. The Government plans to build 1.5 million homes under this parliament, with villages in the green belt stripped of protections against excessive development. Speaking about the Planning and Infrastructure Bill going through Parliament, Packham said: 'If that Bill goes through, we are in deep trouble, and frankly you need to get your chains out because you will need to be tying yourself to trees and you will be needing to sit down in front of bulldozers because that's the only way we're going to stop it. 'Why this government thinks there aren't people who won't do that, I honestly don't know. 'Why are we tolerating a government which is hell-bent on doing something enormously destructive and dangerous to the things we love most?' During an appearance at the Hay Festival, in Hay-on-Wye, Powys, Wales, Packham said those who did not want to risk arrest should find their own way of protesting. 'You don't have to sit in the road. You don't have to get arrested. You simply have to shout above the noise and this is a time when we will have to do that.' He previously presented a television programme called Is It Time To Break The Law? in which he concluded that radical protest is 'the ethically responsible thing to do'. The Government wants to change the planning rules to speed up the building of housing developments. Sir Keir and Ms Reeves have vowed to make it easier for developers to push ahead with projects which have been held up by concerns about wildlife. They have been backed by Angela Rayner, the Housing Secretary, who led the way to overhaul green rules that prevent house building in the countryside. The Prime Minister has said that the Government's new 'common sense approach doesn't allow newts or bats to be more important than the home hard-working people need'. The Chancellor has said new plans will enable developers 'to focus on getting things built and stop worrying over the bats and the newts'. Packham said: 'Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer started a culture war against newts and bats, and they chose newts and bats as totemic symbols because these animals are afforded legal protection.' The Government wants to build homes 'that we don't need, to drive economic growth… through a sector which is one of the most greedy bunch of capitalists that you could ever come across anywhere'. He pointed to figures shared by Rosie Pearson, of the Community Planning Alliance, showing that there are 1.5 million derelict homes in the UK that could be renovated and tens of thousands of commercial properties that could be repurposed. 'The housing crisis is one of affordability. It's not planning, as the Government says. People can't afford their homes.' Packham shared a stage at the Hay Festival with Kevin McCloud, the Grand Designs presenter, who said the British have a 'small island mentality' and should follow the lead of countries in Europe where there are successful eco-housing projects with allotments and communal green spaces. 'When people build these days, they talk about the need for space: 'I need a spacious room'. They don't talk about connection – having that view, having that amazing piece of biodiversity outside your window. 'We build these houses on single plots with four walls which is the most inefficient way to build in terms of thermal loss. We build them around the country giving everybody their little fiefdom,' McCloud said. 'What we need to do is send Angela Rayner around Europe for three years. It's a small island mentality that we have. We can't understand what is possible.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
