Villagers in the South Downs National Park are living in fear of wildfires due to dangerous blazes being repeatedly lit at a sprawling settlement that has been occupied by caravans for over a decade. The site at Soberton, described by some residents as an eyesore and a 'shanty town', has faced legal challenges and evictions, yet it persists.
Recent weeks have seen firefighters called out seven times to extinguish fires at the encampment, despite repeated warnings about the heightened risk of wildfires in the tinder-dry national park. Local residents also report concerns about the thick, acrid smoke emanating from the fires, which they fear poses a health hazard.
Drone footage reveals a site populated by caravans and ramshackle huts, with areas covered in blue netting. A large firepit is visible, piled high with rubbish and broken furniture, some of which has already been burned. Residents have observed trucks and lorries dumping waste at the site, and further fly-tipping has been reported in the surrounding countryside.
One woman, who asked to be identified only by her first name Adele, stated that fires are frequently lit between midnight and 1 a.m., with numerous vehicles and people coming and going. She also mentioned that camp residents obtain water by filling tanks at a local church tap and described them as "not friendly."
Another local resident explained that the field was sold approximately 15 years ago and subsequently divided into plots. "Nobody is supposed to live there. It's agricultural land," the resident said, adding that it has taken about five years to remove people from the site. Describing the settlement, the resident noted, "It still looks like a shanty town in the middle of the South Downs National Park."
In April of the previous year, a woman residing at the site received a suspended jail sentence after the High Court ruled she had repeatedly broken planning rules. Lara Kim Deroubaix was given a four-month sentence, suspended for four years, for ignoring an injunction to remove a caravan, following eight years of enforcement attempts. The South Downs National Park Authority was awarded over £14,000 in costs.
The South Downs National Park Authority and Winchester City Council jointly evicted individuals living illegally on the site in June, concluding a planning dispute that spanned more than ten years. Caravans, mobile homes, sheds, non-agricultural vehicles, fencing, domestic animals, and gas bottles were removed. The land's only lawful use is agriculture.
Tim Slaney, Director of Placemaking for the South Downs National Park Authority, described the situation as a "lengthy and difficult enforcement case" where warnings and notices were consistently ignored. He emphasized that the national park's designation for its natural beauty, wildlife, and heritage is threatened by such unlawful developments.
Cllr Jackie Porter, Cabinet Member for Place and the Local Plan at Winchester City Council, affirmed the council's commitment to protecting the district from unauthorized development and expressed satisfaction with the joint effort to safeguard the national park. The land is now expected to recover and return to its original agricultural purpose.
The issue of fires at illegal encampments is not isolated to the South Downs. In a separate incident, an illegal encampment at King's Norton nature reserve in Birmingham saw travellers set up on dry grasslands next to a sheltered housing complex. Firefighters were called to reports of a fire, though police confirmed no blaze was present upon their arrival. Residents in that area also reported issues with individuals asking for money and expressed concerns about the fire risk due to the dry conditions and proximity to housing.