TRAVELLERS with bulldozers who took over a beauty spot in “Wild West” chaos insist they are the real victims in the bitter village row.
Dozens of , diggers and machinery near Flamstead, over the Easter weekend.
Travellers at the centre of the row say they are the victims Credit: n.c
Fuming locals claim the space has been ‘invaded’ Credit: n.c
Dacorum Borough Council describe the pitch as an ‘unauthorised encampment’ Credit: n.c
Fuming locals claim the space has been “invaded” and accused the group of “forcing their way” onto the green belt land.
The group laid down concrete across the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) – located just minutes from Airport.
A 70-year-old pensioner living nearby said: “It’s like the Wild West. They are destroying the community.”
Officials from Dacorum Borough Council have since taken the case to the High Court, describing the pitch as an “unauthorised encampment”.
The local authority confirmed the development commenced without planning consent.
A planning application was validated for 14 residential Gypsy and Traveller pitches on April 7 – four days after works were first reported.
But lawyers representing the group say the patch is legally theirs and insist they were left with “little choice” due to a lack of alternative sites.
And the families themselves say they have been unfairly portrayed and targeted amid the escalating local dispute.
Speaking at the site, the group told The Sun that they wanted to settle down and provide a safe space for their children.
While accepting their are not “traditional brick houses”, they said they were entitled to create their own living area.
They plan to create education and healthcare spaces – but work on the site has been halted as legal proceedings remain ongoing.
And they allege that, while they were away from the site, locals entered the land and deliberately sabotaged expensive machinery.
According to the group, diggers worth £100,000 have been rendered unusable after wires were “tactically cut”.
They showed us visible damage on the machinery and claimed whoever slashed the wiring “knew what they were doing”.
According to the group, diggers worth £100,000 have been rendered unusable Credit: n.c
They claim locals have cut wiring on the machines Credit: n.c
A 70-year-old pensioner living nearby compared it to the ‘Wild West’ Credit: n.c
The say it has left them feeling unsafe and under attack.
But locals say vehicles forced through their attempts to block access, with claims of cars being damaged and a vehicle struck amid the chaos.
A parish councillor even accused the group of wielding iron bars and threatening residents.
Cops have since launched an into a number of allegations, including criminal damage and threatening behaviour.
Police confirmed it had received reports from “several parties” involved in the dispute.
Dacorum Chief Inspector Paul Stanbridge said: “The allegations were made following unauthorised works on land in the area.
“The works themselves are a civil planning matter and police have no powers to prevent it taking place.
“Our role is to ensure public safety, prevent a breach of the peace and investigate any reports of criminal activity.
“We’ve already spoken with several people as part of our enquiries and are urging anyone else with information to please report it directly to police.”
The travellers dispute claims they are acting unlawfully or aggressively, insisting they are being “badly maligned”.
Dacorum Borough Council has already issued a temporary stop notice and secured an emergency injunction to halt further development.
A High Court judge made an order on April 5 “prohibiting any unauthorised works or use of the site”.
At another hearing on Wednesday, Caroline Bolton, representing the council, told the court the injunction had already been breached.
But barrister Alan Masters, who represents the group on the site, said the local authority had a “demonstrable need” for “gypsy sites”.
He wrote: “Following their residence on the site the named defendants lawfully sought retrospective planning permission to turn the land into a gypsy site.
“The land is in an area of the Green Belt that is Grey Belt and where development of a gypsy site is classified as appropriate development.
“Whilst it is accepted that they moved on and occupied this site in advance of planning permission being granted…
“They had very little choice due to the lack of unsuitable available lawful alternative accommodation in the district.”
The travellers dispute claims they are acting unlawfully or aggressively Credit: n.c
The group told The Sun they wanted to settle down and provide a safe space for their children Credit: n.c
Councils must regularly carry out Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessments and count how many people in their area require a pitch.
This is required under the Housing Act 1985 and Planning Policy for Traveller Sites.
The legal standoff is set to resume on May 7, when Judge Bilal Saddique will reconsider the case.
Issuing a statement on its website, Dacorum Borough Council said it “will be taking further legal action in the coming weeks”.
It read: “We were notified on Friday April 3 that unauthorised hardcore was being laid on privately owned land on Friendless Lane, Flamstead.
“After monitoring the information received throughout Good Friday, we carried out site inspections.
“Due to the scale and speed of the works taking place within the Chilterns National Landscape, we served a Temporary Stop Notice on April 4.
“This required all works to cease immediately and was issued to prevent further harm while we considered additional enforcement options.
“We continue to gather evidence of any breaches and will be taking further legal action in the coming weeks.”
The Sun has approached Hertfordshire Police and Dacorum Borough Council for comment.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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