Judge extends order barring 'Travellers' from field

Council bosses are waiting to see whether members of the "Gypsy-Traveller community" will challenge a High Court order barring unauthorised development on green belt land.

A High Court judge has extended an injunction, made in August after diggers were driven on to an "environmentally sensitive" the field in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire.

Mr Justice Lavender said the injunction would apply until a full trial of the council's legal claim went to court, but he said his latest order could be challenged by the defendants.

A barrister representing East Hertfordshire District Council, which had applied for the injunction, said it was thought those behind the development wanted to create a Travellers' site at the field, off Sheering Mill Lane.

The judge said anyone suspected of breaching the order could be arrested and might be found to be in contempt of court.

After the hearing, local councillors said they were pleased the injunction had been extended.

Eric Buckmaster, Conservative member at the district council, told the BBC: "We are absolutely delighted."

Simon Penney, Conservative member of Sawbridgeworth Town Council, added: "We are pleased that the injunction, and the power of arrest, has been maintained."

Hundreds of residents gathered at the field, shortly after diggers arrived in August, to voice their anger - and East Herts District Council began legal action.

In August, the council said its priority was to prevent the site being occupied and to bring "the unauthorised development" to an end as quickly as possible

Barrister Michael Fry, who led the council's legal team at the High Court, asked for a temporary injunction, made by another judge in August, to be extended.

He told Mr Justice Lavender the "indication" was that members of the "Gypsy-traveller community" wanted to create a "traveller campsite".

Mr Justice Lavender made the order against "persons unknown" and four named "defendants" — Andrew Cash, Mikey Cash, Evan McCarthy and Freda Connors.

He indicated that the injunction would stay in place until a further order was made.

Fry told the judge that council staff were concerned about breaches of planning control or "activities carried out in preparation for a breach of planning control".

He listed these as removal of vegetation, excavation works to form trenches, spreading of hardcore and erection of fencing

Mr Fry said the land was "green belt", "lowland fen" and "particularly environmentally sensitive".

He said the owner of the land had "not granted permission for any development".

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