Travellers face injunction banning more caravans

Chichester District Council has applied for an injunction against a family of travellers who have set up caravans in a West Sussex field.

Workers spent last weekend removing a deep layer of soil in a field on Blind Lane near Lurgashall, Petworth, before spreading it with hardcore material.

The council has already issued a stop notice at the South Downs National Park site.

The family have told the BBC that they believed they had a right to live there and would not leave.

Seven caravans and motorhomes were brought onto the site on Monday, with nearby residents saying they were outraged that strict planning laws in place in the South Downs National Park had seemingly been ignored.

Almost 100 people attended a Lurgashall Parish Council meeting on Thursday.

Chichester District Council leader Adrian Moss told attendees that barristers had prepared an injunction application which the council had submitted to a judge.

"The injunction means that they cannot do any more works or bring any more caravans onto the site or they would be liable to prosecution," he said.

"The ultimate aim is to have them removed from the site but we must wait for the court to make the decision about what happens next."

Some residents approached by the BBC after the meeting said they were reassured that the council was taking these legal steps, others were less sure.

Asked to sum up the feelings of the community, one woman replied "anxious and helpless".

Ward district councillor Brett Burkhart said the village felt "violated" and people were "very shocked".

One resident, who did not want to be named, said a car came from the site and followed him aggressively, with the driver and passenger using threatening and intimidating behaviour and language.

The BBC has spoken to the travellers, who denied that any members of the family had been aggressive.

They added that they have reported hateful comments made about them online to the police.

The family said they believed they had the right to live on land that they said they owned and they told the BBC they had no choice but to do this unlawfully "as we're never heard or given a voice".

They added: "We're treated like aliens and have suffered years of discrimination.

"We just want to be accepted in this community. We're not moving anywhere."

The South Downs National Park Authority said: "We are appalled at the unauthorised works on this site in the National Park, which has been designated on behalf of the entire nation for its natural beauty, biodiversity and heritage.

"We take breaches of planning and unauthorised development very seriously and will continue to work with Chichester District Council to resolve the situation."

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