Council blames High Court delay for failing to evict travellers who concreted over field in Bank Holiday 'land grab' four months ago

A council has been criticised for failing to enforce a High Court injunction banning travellers from occupying a site they built on a field without planning permission.At an emergency meeting last night, villagers in Willows Green in Essex criticised councillors for their alleged inaction over 'ongoing and flagrant' breaches of planning laws at the controversial 12-pitch development.Workers and around 30 vehicles moved in on the 'beautiful' wildlife haven hours after council officials left for the May Bank Holiday before covering it with hardcore and moving in caravans.Uttlesford District Council did not act until four days later, when it served a temporary stop notice.On May 7, it obtained an interim High Court injunction, before this was made permanent after a full hearing before Mr Justice Sweeting on June 18.At yesterday's council meeting – which was accompanied by protests – it was claimed that the judge had asked the council if it wished to bring enforcement proceedings but it had declined.But John Evans, Cabinet Member for Planning, suggested the High Court was to blame for the authority's inaction because it has not issued a written judgment for the case three months after the injunction was made permanent.He said: 'The council has still not yet received from the court the sealed order arising from the June 18 hearing, the written judgment setting out the court's reasons, or an approved transcript of any oral judgment delivered at the hearing. Up to 60 locals protested outside Uttlesford District Council's offices on Thursday night Residents held up banners voicing their concerns at the council's lack of action The site in Essex has been allowed to remain for four months 'Officers have repeatedly asked the court for these documents. Accordingly, the council's account of the court's decision is currently limited to the matters confirmed orally during those day's proceedings.'The formal court documents will be important in determining the precise terms and effect of the court's decision and in assessing any potential further enforcement action, including whether there is an evidential and procedural basis for an application for contempt of court.'Yesterday's meeting was called in response to a protest outside the council's offices on September 3.The first protest was called after East Herts Council acted swiftly to stop a similar unauthorised traveller site development being created over the August Bank Holiday in the village of Sawbridgeworth.After hardcore was dumped onto wetland, and fencing and pitches set up, authorities in Sawbridgeworth swiftly took matters in hand through court and police action. By the end of the weekend, no one had moved into the site.Several seats were empty after large numbers of councillors failed to show up to the emergency talks last night.Residents spoke of alleged threats and intimidation received from travellers for speaking up against the site, including having vehicles driven towards them.It was also claimed that council planning officers had felt intimidated by travellers who turned up to the council offices to argue they were being made homeless. The four-acre plot of land was ripped up by around 30 lorries and diggers back in May Sherrie Smith, chief executive of Gypsies and Travellers Essex, is seen during a protest outside Uttlesford District Council's office on Thursday eveningResidents speaking to a police officer at the Hertfordshire site days earlier A police officer speaks to two travellers who set up the camp in Sawbridgeworth over the bank holiday weekendThe meeting heard the council was warned on April 15 that a traveller was trying to secure large amounts of base material to be delivered to the land over the bank holiday.It received a further warning by email on April 30 and carried out a Land Registry search which showed the land to still be owned by a property company that paid for £125,000 for the site a year earlier.Even though the property firm has been linked to other unauthorised traveller site developments, on this basis, Mr Evans said there was not enough evidence to apply for an injunction against any development before it started.No emergency plan was put in place and Mr Evans admitted the council has no out-of-hours emergency cover for planning enforcement matters.It was also revealed that the council had updated its planning enforcement policy just weeks before the unauthorised development, but it made no mention of how to deal with illegal traveller sites.Mr Evans added that as a result of the events at Willows Green, the council has commissioned officers to undertake a review of its planning enforcement processes.A statement previously issued on behalf of the residents of the traveller site said: 'There is currently a valid planning application under review and we believe the proper planning process should be allowed to take its course.'We fully understand the main road is public and open to everyone. However, that does not mean the area inside the gates of our homes is public space.'This is where our families live and where our children should be able to feel safe and have a reasonable expectation of privacy.'This is not about attacking or criticising the local community. It is about protecting the privacy, safety and wellbeing of our families and children while a legitimate planning application is being properly considered.'