Latest news with #locals
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The travellers' tactics: How travellers are obliterating Britain's prized countryside to turn them into concrete carbuncles for their caravans in illegal landgrabs
Travellers are using 'military' shock and awe-style tactics to obliterate areas of idyllic British countryside and turn them into concrete 'carbuncles' for their caravans, it can be revealed. Groups across the UK have been accused of carrying out brazen bank holiday 'landgrabs' to rapidly build camps under the noses of council chiefs while their offices are closed. Allegedly weaponising the national breaks, industrial diggers, excavators and lorries carrying gravel, are mobilised to rip up and pave over fields in protected green belts during 'deliberate and meticulously planned' operations. Cynically, the 'illegal' conversions are done without any planning permission, flouting development rules - with 'retrospective' applications later submitted to councils to allow the newly-constructed sites to remain. In the past month, at least two new encampments have been set up in West Sussex and Cheshire during the two May bank holidays, with fuming locals accusing travellers of making a 'mockery' of building laws. The latest unauthorised works took place in the quaint village of Burtonwood, near Warrington, in Cheshire, during last week's bank holiday, with travellers taking less than 72 hours to convert a field into a gravel car park. They covered half the open space in hardcore and also built a 10ft-high wooden fence around the boundary, with groups allegedly working through the night - much to the fury of dismayed locals. 'I have never felt so impotent as a councillor in not being able to do something,' local politician Stuart Mann said last night. 'The neighbours suffered for 36 hours solid that went through the night. It was a military operation in terms of how [the travellers] achieved it.' The works on the land appear to mirror a similar incident weeks earlier near the West Sussex town of Petworth, in the heart of the protected South Downs National Park, during the VE Day bank holiday at the start of May. A tranquil plot in Blind Lane, Lurgashall, was transformed into a building site as heavy machinery ploughed through the field without planning permission, turning it into gravel car park, with 10 caravans later appearing there. Local MP Andrew Griffith was left horrified by the unauthorised development and now fears travellers elsewhere could launch similar landgrabs if planning rules aren't tightened up. 'These are clearly deliberate and meticulously planned operations,' Mr Griffith, the Conservatives' Shadow Business and Trade Secretary, told MailOnline. 'In the Lurgashall case it took far too long for the local council to act leaving ratepayers and residents at the mercy of this devastating planning blight. 'It is clearly foreseeable that bank holiday weekends are the moment of maximum danger and yet that's when town halls fail to ensure staff cover.' Work at the six-acre Burtonwood site in Cheshire reportedly started at 6pm on Friday, May 23. MailOnline understands it came after travellers legitimately purchased the plot of land. Within hours, 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, Cllr Mann said an investigation had been launched after complaints from locals, who say the land is green belt and should be for agricultural use only. He claimed to have been bombarded by 'hundreds' of emails from worried locals, with more than 50 people turning up at his surgery to express concerns. Speaking to MailOnline yesterday, Cllr Mann said the community had been left feeling 'helpless' and angry at the development. But it has also led to questions about how the local authority could have reacted to the issue, which could now take weeks to resolve despite an enforcement notice being issued. 'In my head, why was there nothing that could be done to at least put a pause on what was happening?' he said. 'Why couldn't someone turn up and say stop let's work something out.' Other residents have reportedly had applications for their own developments on neighbouring land refused by the council, according to Cllr Mann. 'We have to have a level of faith in the planning process but it needs to be fair for anybody to build something,' he added. 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 anger, 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.' At the West Sussex site, efforts made to stop the development from going ahead appeared to fail. Builders arrived at the site on Friday, May 2, and work continued over the Bank Holiday weekend despite council notices and visits from Sussex Police. By Sunday afternoon, a septic tank was seen being delivered to the site as well as more gravel - with caravans later occupying the plot. A female council planning officer posted a second notice on the gate to the site on the Monday as three men carried on working. An earlier order to stop work was ignored. It's unclear who was responsible for the unauthorised development. However, Mr Griffith said locals had been left appalled by it. Speaking at the time, the MP for Arundel and South Downs said: 'I completely share the outrage and concern of residents about this illegal breach of all respected planning standards and behaviour. 'It makes a mockery of a system where we all jump through lengthy and costly hoops to install a dormer window when such brazen breaches happen unchecked.' The MP added the incident came 'almost a year to the day' that Chichester District Council's Lib Dem administration 'advertised a £50,000-a-year traveller liaison role which many felt sent precisely the wrong signal'. In May 2023, a beauty spot in the Cotswolds was ruined by travellers, who bulldozed their way onto a site they had not got permission to live on, despite the council trying to stop it happening for 17 years. People in Kayte Lane, a rural community below Cleeve Hill, in Southam, near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, feared for years the unauthorised occupation of the land would happen before it finally did two years ago. Sixteen caravans plus several cars and vans entered the site, which the travellers moved onto over the late spring bank holiday. Travellers laid down hardstanding in the field, put up a high wooden fence along the edge of it and installed CCTV cameras, some of which overlook their neighbours. One local resident, who did not want to be identified, said the group used a bulldozer to clear vegetation from parts of the site when they moved on to it. It sparked a legal row, with locals last year accusing the authorities of not doing enough to prevent it from happening. Tewkesbury Borough Council first obtained a court order in 2007 to try to protect the greenbelt land, which is close to Cheltenham Racecourse, from being developed. It refused a retrospective planning application from the travellers in November 2023, after receiving more than 200 objections. But the unauthorised development still went ahead, sparking local fury. 'Tewkesbury Borough Council don't enforce anything. We're fighting against a brick wall,' one resident raged at the time.' Speaking last night, Mr Griffith urged action by Labour to clampdown on groups brazenly flouting planning laws nationally. 'The government must use the Planning and Infrastructure Bill currently going through Parliament to remove what increasingly feels to many like a 'two-tier' planning system,' he District Council has already secured a High Court injunction to halt further activity on the two-hectare field near Lurgashall. The injunction prohibits any further unauthorised works or vehicles and caravans entering the site. If a person fails to comply with the order, it could result in a jail term. Council leader Adrian Moss insisted the authority would 'not hesitate to take action' when planning rules are broken. 'We want to assure the community that we are doing everything in our power to respond to this. We will also be working with those on the site, local parish councils, and the local community, to offer support,' he said. A spokesman for Chichester District Council added: 'We take these matters incredibly seriously. We have planning rules in place to protect areas of countryside in our district, including the South Downs National Park, and if harmful development is carried out then we will take appropriate enforcement action. 'We want to assure the community that we are doing everything in our power to respond to this. We will also be working with those on the site, local parish councils, and the local community, to offer support.' Sussex Police told MailOnline it was aware of the traveller site but said it was a 'civil matter'. A spokesman for Warrington Borough Council confirmed 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.'
The Independent
9 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
‘Mount Etna is erupting, look!' Tourists flee as volcano spews ash and lava
Tourists fled from the sides of Sicily's Mount Etna on Monday after it erupted, sending dense clouds of ash and gas miles into the sky. Dozens of people were seen scrambling down Europe's largest active volcano after it was shaken by tremors that were widely felt in surrounding towns and villages. Billowing clouds were visible from some distance, with images showing the eruption was visible from the Ancient Theatres of Taormina, about 18 miles away. However, the eruption was confined to the summit and did not threaten any visitor zones or local towns, officials said. It began in the early hours of Monday morning following volcanic tremors, and Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said eruption activity has continued since then with 'increasing intensity' and was 'almost continuous', with the potential to further increase. But Sicilian officials and volcanic experts reassured locals and tourists alike that the closely monitored eruption posed no danger to those on the Mediterranean island. 'Although this can appear terrifying to tourists visiting the volcano, this activity is nothing unusual for Mount Etna, which is almost continually active and has these sorts of eruptions every year or two,' Bill McGuire, professor emeritus of geophysical and climate hazards at UCL told The Independent. Locals close to the volcano took Monday's eruption in their stride. 'Mount Etna is erupting, look!' said Giorgio, a local hotel owner who said the eruptions are regular and that Sicilians in the ancient port city of Catania are now used to regular disturbances which can coat the area in a thin layer of ash. In the centre of the city, celebrations continued for Festa della Repubblica, a national holiday marking the foundation of the modern Italian republic in 1946. Tourists near the Basilica Cattedrale di Sant'Agata queued for gelato in the 29C heat as plumes of smoke drifted skywards in the distance. Alert levels were raised at Catania Airport but no major flight disruptions were reported. It was one of more than a dozen eruptions this year alone at Mount Etna, which is also known as the 'Lady of the Rings' due to rings of water vapour it can produce. Professor Dougal Jerrem, a volcanologist and geologist, said this week's eruption on Etna followed plenty of recent eruptive behaviour. 'There was around, I think, 13 reported eruptions in the year. And often they can be quite small. Occasionally, they can start with an explosive phase like this one has,' he told The Independent. While Monday's eruption began explosively, a key reassurance for officials and the more than 1 million people living within roughly 18 miles of the volcano was that lava flow had not yet reached the Valley of the Lion, which is the limit to how high tourists are allowed to go on the mountain. President of the Sicilian region, Renato Schifani said authorities were following the volcanic activity 'with extreme caution'. 'At the moment, from the first surveys, the material has not exceeded the edge of the Valley of the Lion and, as they assure me, there is no danger for the population.' The mayor of Catania, the closest large town to the volcano, said everything was 'normal and under control'. He told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that due to the monitoring of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, the summit area had already been closed prior to the eruption. Bill McGuire, professor emeritus of geophysical and climate hazards at UCL, said today's eruption at Mount Etna was 'nothing unusual' for the popular volcano. 'Although this can appear terrifying to tourists visiting the volcano, this activity is nothing unusual for Mount Etna, which is almost continually active and has these sorts of eruptions every year or two,' he said. Prof Jerrem said the thing to look out for was whether the volcanic activity continues for some time. The thing to look out for is whether this then does carry on for some significant time. It can often go on for several days, weeks and even months, whether that leads to more significant lava flows in the not-too-distant future,' he said.
The Sun
10 hours ago
- General
- The Sun
Our picturesque countryside views are ruined by 6ft tall ‘Great Wall of China' fence next door… so we got our revenge
FURIOUS villagers have succeeded in having a 6ft tall fence, that was blocking beauty spot views, torn down. Residents hit out at their local council for building the large "out of place" steel structure. 4 4 The massive 200 meter long, 6ft tall, spiked steel fence was built by Monmouthshire County Council in Clydach, Wales. Residents were given no notice that the fence was to be erected at a cost of £40,000. Furious with the hideous construction locals campaigned to have the fence removed. It blocked beauty spot views of the Brecon Beacons National Park leaving local residents infuriated and demanding it be taken down. Furious locals could see the fence on the hillside from their back gardens and said it failed to blend in. A heated council meeting in April saw residents fume at the local council with one branding it "disgusting." County council officials have now agreed to take down the fence, forking out an additional £20,000 for its removal. Made of steel spikes, locals blasted the fence as "disgusting" and said it was "absolutely hideous." The council was slammed for not consulting with residents before building the "great wall of Clydach." It was put up along the Pwll Du Road which has been closed off for five years. The council feared the road would collapse and put the fence up to block off the dodgy pathway. They have since agreed to remove the steel fence and replace it with a shorter structure that will "blend in" with the surroundings. Our kids' play area was blocked by huge 6ft privacy fence Nearby resident Clive Thomas said: "We've got a lovely back garden, and it's just an eyesore. "When the sun is on it and everything, it just looks out of place." Simon Elliott said: "There was no consultation with anyone. The fence has been put up with no understanding at all of what the area is. "All it needed was a low-level fencing to stop any cattle or people going over the edge into the quarry." Simon Howarth, independent councillor said he was pleased with the council's decision. He added: "we shouldn't have got here" pointing out that the huge bills could have been avoided. The councillor went on to say: "Overall we are where we should have started, but around £50,000 to £70,000 worse off." A council spokesperson said: "Following a positive meeting, the local community and the council agreed with the proposal to reduce the height of the back line of the palisade fencing, replacing it with stock proof fencing and painting the reveals and pillars with a suitable colour to blend in with the landscape." 4 4 What to Do If You Disagree with the Council's Planning Decision Disputes over planning applications can be stressful, but there are steps you can take to challenge or resolve the situation: Understand the Reasons: Carefully review the council's decision and the specific reasons for refusal or enforcement. This will help you identify areas to address. Seek Professional Advice: Consult a planning consultant or solicitor with expertise in planning law. They can offer tailored advice and represent your case if necessary. Submit an Appeal: If you believe the decision is unfair, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. Be prepared to provide evidence and technical details to support your case. Explore Compromise: Engage with the council to see if a compromise can be reached. Adjusting aspects of the development, such as materials or design, may lead to an acceptable solution. Engage the Community: Support from neighbours and local residents can strengthen your position. A petition or letters of support may highlight the development's benefits. Act Promptly: There are strict time limits for appeals and responses to enforcement notices. Ensure you act within the specified deadlines to avoid further complications. Remember, while it can be frustrating, maintaining a constructive dialogue with the council is often the best way to find a resolution.
The Sun
10 hours 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
13 hours ago
- General
- Telegraph
Squawking peacocks ‘terrorising' village
Villagers have claimed they are being terrorised by a flock of peacocks that are destroying their gardens and keeping them awake past 2am. The noisy birds, in Tutbury, Staffordshire, have become such a problem that council bosses have issued a warning urging people not to feed them. Locals say the peacocks trample their plants, leave droppings on driveways and vehicles, and can be heard 'squawking' in the early hours of the morning. Marion West, a 71-year-old retired dinner lady, said: 'They're up half the night squawking and keep you awake. I squirt them with a water pistol if they come near me. 'If you're not careful, they poo everywhere, and it's such a mess. They eat your flowers too. They're a pain in the backside. And when they walk on your roof, it sounds like you've got burglars.' Another resident, who did not wish to be named, added: 'They're such a nuisance, getting all on your plants and making a mess everywhere. 'I mean, they're lovely birds, but when they're up at 5.30am squawking you don't need it. 'The other night they were noisy until 2am and then back here at 5.30am the next day. As to who owns them, I don't think anyone really knows.' But Heather Hunter-Harris, 63, who has been living in the area for more than 16 years, claimed the peacocks were part of Tutbury's charm. She said: 'They're alright – they are loud, and they're up early. But most birds are. They're cheeky, and if they can get food out of you they will, but I just don't feed them. 'The peacocks have always been in Tutbury. I feel like if you take those out, you're taking Tutbury away. 'People come here to see the peacocks, and when they put their tails up, it looks lovely. You've just got to be tolerant, keep out their way, and let them get on with it.' Tutbury parish council, which described the birds as a 'serious problem', has urged villagers not to feed them as it makes them harder to deter. Francis Crossley, who chairs the council, said he believed there were 26 peacocks during the authority's last count but there could now be up to 40. He added: 'Some people love them, but some people can't bear them. It's a Marmite situation. They're nice to hear in the background, but not outside your house. 'They wouldn't attack anyone, but when they see their reflection, they do peck – like if they see a reflection in a car. They roam around and eat vegetables growing if they aren't covered up, and they are up as soon as it's daylight. 'We just ask that people don't feed them, as neighbours are being disturbed by them. I can understand people's frustration if they end up on your roof because your neighbour is feeding them.'
