Injunction issued over caravans on green belt site

A High Court injunction has been granted after caravans moved on to green belt land a week ago.

Buckinghamshire Council said it was told about the arrival of mobile homes on land off Hog Lane in Ashley Green, close to Chesham, at 21:30 BST on Thursday, 2 April.

It said staff visited the next day and "observed multiple men, trade vehicles and evidence of caravans and works" on the site, where a previous planning application had been refused.

A Temporary Stop Notice (TSN) was issued on Saturday, 4 April and an interim injunction was granted at the High Court by 21:30 that evening after the unauthorised work continued.

It "prohibits any further works, occupation or alteration of the land, including bringing additional caravans or materials on to the site, creating new tracks, installing services, depositing waste or assisting others in moving on to the land," the authority added.

The Conservative council's deputy leader Peter Strachan said the site was "completely unacceptable" and it would "not hesitate to use the full extent of the law" to protect the area from unauthorised development.

"Our officers worked tirelessly throughout the bank holiday period to gather evidence, issue enforcement notices and secure an urgent injunction within hours."

He added the speed of the action showed how seriously it took the breach and said further legal steps would be taken if needed.

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