Residents in Hertfordshire are expressing frustration and disbelief after a traveller family, who were granted temporary permission to occupy a controversial Green Belt site, appear to have vanished, while new plans for further development are being considered.
The travellers arrived at the Watling Street site in 2022, felling trees without permission and exposing nearby Bridgefoot Cottages to a busy road. This action followed a retrospective planning application that was rejected by Hertsmere council.
However, the family was granted a five-year temporary stay, until 2029, by the Government's Planning Inspectorate. A key argument for the appeal was the need for a settled base for Theresa Lane and her five children, including an 11-year-old child with Down's Syndrome who reportedly needs to live near a specialist school. Neighbours present at the hearing claimed the child showed no recognition of the family and appeared to be ignored by them.
According to neighbours who spoke to the Daily Mail, neither Ms. Lane nor her children have been seen on the site for over two years. The only believed resident is a single man in his 30s, a breach of the condition that only Ms. Lane and her family could occupy the land.
Council enforcement officers have reportedly told residents they cannot force entry to question the travellers about alleged rule-breaking, as the gates to the site are kept chained and padlocked. A Planning Inspectorate spokesperson stated that inspectors consider evidence thoroughly and that enforcement is a local council responsibility.
Before the temporary permission was granted, the plot, previously purchased by Ms. Lane's brother Patrick Sweeney for £39,000 in 2021, was resurfaced with aggregate material. A static caravan was placed on the site, with a children's slide and trampoline positioned near a neighbouring garden, despite young children living in the adjacent cottages.
Residents also reported a significant increase in their water bills, which they believe was due to the travellers connecting to the shared water main. Blue pipes were also installed on the site, intended for septic tanks, despite the temporary permission limiting occupation to a single mobile home and a touring caravan.
The travellers have now submitted a new planning application seeking permission for two touring caravans and two static homes on the site. Hertsmere council confirmed it is aware of alleged breaches of the original permission, including occupancy restrictions, but its enforcement case is on hold pending the determination of the new application. The council stated that enforcement action would be considered once the application is decided.
The latest application references the site as 'grey belt', a policy introduced by Labour that loosens restrictions on building on 'poor quality' Green Belt land. The Watling Street plot has been designated Green Belt for at least 45 years and was previously described as a haven for wildlife.