An unauthorised traveller encampment in Tilsworth, Bedfordshire, is under investigation for allegedly connecting to the local electricity and water networks shortly before residents experienced a power outage. The village has seen a significant increase in travellers, with some residents claiming there are now more travellers than locals.
The unauthorised development reportedly began on Friday, June 12, with workers covering a field with hardcore to create an extension to an existing legal site. This occurred just before staff at Central Bedfordshire Council left for the weekend. On the following Tuesday, the council issued a temporary stop notice to halt all construction work. Despite council claims that the notice has been complied with, villagers have stated that work has continued.
On June 19, three days after the stop notice was issued, the local energy network operator, UK Power Networks, was alerted to a possible unauthorised electricity connection at the site. A spokesperson for UK Power Networks confirmed they are investigating the suspected illegal connection and are coordinating with the police. Carrying on construction work after a stop notice is a criminal offense, as is illegal electricity extraction, which can result in up to five years imprisonment.
Tilsworth experienced a power cut on June 24, five days after the suspected unauthorised connection was reported. While villagers attributed the outage to the travellers, UK Power Networks stated the power cut was caused by a fault on the overhead network and is not believed to be linked to the encampment. During the outage, affected residents received a text message acknowledging the unexpected power cut and stating efforts were underway to restore power.
As of July 3, the unauthorised site is subject to a High Court injunction prohibiting further development. However, residents remain concerned, reporting that work has continued in recent weeks and complaining of noise, fires, and alleged threats. The new encampment reportedly houses 19 motorhomes and caravans, adding to the 70 on the adjacent legal site, with the village itself estimated to have around 140 homes.
Central Bedfordshire Council stated that they are aware of the reports of an unauthorised connection and have notified UK Power Networks. They also confirmed the issuance of the temporary stop notice and the subsequent high court injunction. The council is currently reviewing a retrospective planning application for the site, which could potentially lead to official approval. This situation has led to calls from some Conservative politicians for a ban on retrospective planning approvals for unauthorised traveller sites.
Affinity Water, the local water supplier, did not respond to requests for comment.