Residents in Sawbridgeworth, East Hertfordshire, are reporting the destruction of a wildlife haven and wetland habitat, allegedly by individuals suspected of establishing an unauthorized traveler site. The incident began on Friday morning of a bank holiday weekend, with heavy machinery, including diggers and lorries, seen on the greenbelt land. Fences were erected, and roads were reportedly blocked.
Videos posted on social media show the work in progress, accompanied by the sound of birds. Residents described the situation as a "total destruction of nature" and expressed feelings of powerlessness and devastation over the rapid clearing of the area, which has been a habitat for protected wildlife such as bats, newts, and nesting birds.
East Herts Council confirmed it had issued a Temporary Stop Notice, requiring all unauthorized activity to cease immediately. However, residents claim that work has continued on the site despite the notice. The council stated that its planning enforcement team is monitoring the site and investigating the works, in coordination with Hertfordshire Police. An emergency application for an injunction to prevent occupation of the site is reportedly being prepared.
This incident is being described by some locals as a "land grab," a trend they believe involves travelers purchasing land, often in rural areas, and then establishing unauthorized sites, particularly over bank holiday weekends when council offices are closed. Planning permission is then sought retrospectively, with authorities sometimes granting permanent rights to stay due to an alleged "unmet need for pitches."
One neighbor told the Daily Mail that the area was an important habitat for birds and other wildlife and was being rapidly churned up and covered with hardcore. Despite police presence, residents expressed concern that the habitat would be irreversibly damaged before effective action could be taken.
The incident in Sawbridgeworth follows similar reports, including construction work starting on a greenbelt plot in Irby, Merseyside, where caravans and diggers were observed on land without a submitted planning application. Another case cited involved travelers who allegedly offered to sell back land they had occupied for over £600,000 after purchasing it for £15,000 outside the village of Dinton in Buckinghamshire.