Hertsmere Council has stated it is powerless to intervene in a dispute over woodland that was flattened and paved over by travellers, citing changes to national policy that prevent further action. Residents expressed devastation after the council informed them that regulatory shifts meant no further intervention was possible at the site near St Albans in Hertfordshire.
The Planning Inspectorate granted the travellers five years of temporary permission to occupy the land in 2024, two years after they arrived and cleared a thick layer of trees bordering Bridgefoot Cottages. The family's appeal for permission hinged on the claim that a mother, Theresa Lane, and her five children required a settled base. An 11-year-old child with Down's Syndrome was reportedly presented at a hearing, with arguments made that the child needed to live near a specialist school. However, residents claim the family has not been seen at the site since the hearing, with only single men observed as caretakers.
Travellers had applied for retrospective planning permission for the site, which was previously a green belt area for at least 45 years and described as a haven for wildlife. In 2022, the travellers arrived and reportedly paved over the land with an aggregate material. The temporary permission, granted until 2029, stipulated that only Ms. Lane's family could reside there and required the restoration of the woodland.
When residents contacted the council's enforcement team, citing apparent breaches of the permission, they were informed the case would be closed. An enforcement officer stated in a letter to residents that requirements to restrict planning permission to specific individuals or for temporary periods had been weakened by the government. The letter suggested that conditions limiting development to temporary or personal use would likely not meet current tests due to national policy changes.
Residents described the news as "devastating" and believe the site is being used as a dumping ground, not occupied by the family who secured the temporary permission. Concerns were previously raised by residents about the authenticity of the family's connection to the child presented at the planning hearing, with one attendee stating the child "did not show any indication that she knew them."
Neighbours reported experiencing abuse and deception upon the travellers' arrival. One resident recounted being verbally assaulted while in their own garden by men working on the site. The plot of land was reportedly purchased by Theresa Lane's brother, Patrick Sweeney, for £39,000 in 2021, a significant difference from its previous sale price. After being granted temporary permission for a small camp, vans arrived to surface the entire site, and a static caravan was placed on the land. Images reportedly show children's play equipment near the caravan, with only a small fence separating it from neighbouring gardens. Residents also noted a quadrupling of their water bills, believing the travellers had connected to their shared water main, and observed blue pipes being laid for septic tanks.
Earlier this year, the travellers submitted a new application for two touring caravans and two static homes, referencing the site as 'grey belt,' a policy introduced under former housing secretary Angela Rayner that loosens rules for building on 'poor quality' green belt land. Hertsmere Council confirmed that an application for permanent occupation had been submitted and officers had provisionally recommended granting planning permission, though a decision had not yet been issued. The Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government stated that local authorities possess a range of enforcement powers and that it is for them to determine actions against breaches of planning control.