Work started on site near M40 during bank holiday weekend
TRAVELLERS moved on to a piece of land close to the M40 during bank holiday weekend at short notice.
The area in question is a triangle of land on the A4189 Norton Lindsey in Warwick District and is understood to belong to the travellers who started digging on Saturday.
According to some reports on social media the travellers moved in with such speed they’d already tarmacked parts of the site with claims that between 10 lorries and 20 cars were parked on the verge and lorries coming in and out on a regular basis.
While Warwick District Council planning officers were unlikely to be working during the break, Warwickshire Police said they’d not had any reports from members of the public about the incident.
On Wednesday there was a new development regarding the site when Warwick District Council issued the following statement.
“Warwick District Council has taken enforcement action to prevent further development activities taking place on a site on Henley Road near the M40. The site is owned by some of the travelling families who commenced development works and took occupation over the bank holiday weekend. On Tuesday 28 May, Council Officers accompanied by the Police served a Temporary Stop Notice to stop further building and engineering operations and the stationing of any further caravans at the site. That Notice takes effect at the time that it is served and non-compliance with it is an offence. The Temporary Stop Notice is effective for a period of 56 days during which the Council can also serve an Enforcement Notice accompanied by a further Stop Notice. Whilst there is a right of appeal against the issue of an Enforcement Notice, the Stop Notice would continue to have effect over the period of any appeal. The Council is actively considering further enforcement action whilst continuing to monitor and inspect the site to ensure that the Temporary Stop Notice is complied with.”
Nevertheless, last weekend’s activity led to a number of posts on social media and among those were:
Dave Mitchell said: “They arrived on Saturday and have been working rapidly, causing chaos on the road. “
Kate Davenport Johnson added: “They always start on a Friday night if it’s a Bank Holiday weekend as they know no council or planning staff are available.”
Another contributor said: “If they own the land then more than likely they will be on site for a very long time and to be honest isn’t it better for them to be on a site rather than turning up on car parks and public areas? Some sites are well looked after. For example, the one on the Stratford Road near Wilmcote is very well kept.”
There are previous examples in the district of travellers moving on to land quickly but in most cases they have left the site after a short stay when directed to by the relevant local authority.
On Good Friday 2022 Temple Grafton residents were angered when travellers moved onto land in the village after a convoy of vehicles, vans and lorries drove onto The Paddocks at 6am and laid down hardcore to tarmac the area.
Residents blocked the entrance to the site in protest pending an appeal by the landowner who had previously applied for planning permission. In October that year Stratford District Council granted planning permission subject to conditions.
Back in 2008 a traveller site was set up on a field on the A429 near Shipston – the Fosse Way - in a matter of days when mechanical diggers and other vehicles moved tons of earth to make way for caravan homes where they stayed for over four years. The site was abandoned in 2016.
The bank holiday incident at Norton Lindsey highlights a lack of provision of traveller sites in the district and despite an undertaking by local authorities to address this and provide more locations by 2050. According to Warwickshire County Council four traveller sites exist in Warwickshire including Pathlow near Stratford.
Towards the end of the week a further statement was issued by Warwick District Council.
“We currently have no site provision in the district. We do have one potential site we are working on bringing forward and we will be looking to address wider provision in the Local Plan for South Warwickshire.”
