A WILDLIFE haven was transformed into an “illegal” caravan site overnight after a group of travellers descended on a quiet village.
The community moved onto the four-acre field in Willows Green, near Felsted, , within hours of the local district council closing its doors for the Bank Holiday weekend on Friday afternoon.
Travellers descended onto the site after the local council offices closed on Friday afternoon Credit: JOHN McLELLAN
The field adjacent to the tiny Hamlet of Willows Green, near Essex was transformed overnight Credit: JOHN McLELLAN
Locals took pictures of men working well through the night Credit: X/GriftReport
Diggers and other machinery were brought on site as construction began on the pristine countryside Credit: X/GriftReport
Locals had previously warned Uttlesford District Council of the looming threat to the field.
But the authority claimed it was powerless to act over the picturesque wildlife spot, which is home to protected great-crested newts and rare albino fallow deer.
And on Friday night, under the cover of darkness, residents’ fears were finally realised.
Around 30 vehicles, including cars, vans, and several diggers, were brought onto the land.
A group of men worked with machinery as they began ripping up the vegetation to prepare the ground for a hardcore and tarmac base.
Using floodlights and generators, pictures revealed several men working through the night into Saturday morning to construct over the pristine countryside.
Residents, whose in the picturesque hamlet overlook one side of the site, watched as the work began and awoke this morning to see the development continuing unabated.
The Daily Mail had also warned how the field at the historic hamlet of Willows Green, just outside Felsted.
A local council source told the outlet that intended to import thousands of tonnes of hardcore to develop a site over this bank holiday weekend before worries became reality.
One man in his 60s told MailOnline following the building works: “The council was warned this was on the cards but just sat back and waited for it to happen.
Travellers worked through the night to prepare the site for caravans Credit: JOHN McLELLAN
Braintree MP James Cleverly at the field in Willows Green Credit: JOHN McLELLAN
“The field was swamped with vehicles, noise and lights all through the night.
“No doubt by the time the council reopens on Tuesday there will be a fully-fledged caravan park opposite our homes.”
One resident said they had been oblivious to anything being about to happen and that neither the district or parish council had warned them or asked them to look out for suspicious activity.
She said: “The first we knew of it was last night when they just turned up. They have made a new access road by ripping out an ancient hedgerow and filling in the ditch with rubble.
“This morning the road was blocked by six lorries containing rubble and pallets. There are bulldozers and diggers on site, it is a huge operation.
“It is very frightening and we do not know what to do, it was a complete shock and we need to hear of some action from Uttlesford Council.”
James Cleverley was also on the scene in his constituency in Essex and posted a video while at the site.
The Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government said something needed to be done to “take action” against those trying to “game the system” by strategically doing building work outside office hours.
The village is best known as the home of Felsted School, which was founded in 1564 by Richard Rich, who served as Lord Chancellor of during the reign of King Edward VI from 1547 to 1551.
An Uttlesford Council spokesperson said on Thursday: “We are aware of local concerns regarding the land, however, at this stage no breach of planning control has occurred. The site is not subject to an injunction or Article 4 Direction.
“Planning enforcement is a reactive service – this means the council can only take formal action once a breach has taken place. It cannot act before a breach has occurred.
“Should unauthorised development occur, we will respond in accordance with our planning enforcement plan.”
The Sun have contacted Uttlesford Council again after the work started.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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