Police maintained order at a wildlife haven in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, following confrontations between protesters and travellers who allegedly began development on the land. The disruption started on August 29, prompting hundreds of local residents to protest the work.
Furious residents camped on the field adjacent to Rod Stewart's Grade II-listed mansion, Durrington House, overnight to prevent further activity. Their protest was met with success on August 31 when workers departed the site following a visit from police and the local council.
East Hertfordshire District Council issued a stop order on the work, which involved diggers and bulldozers, that same evening. A subsequent injunction has temporarily halted further development. Officers remain on the site, which is now surrounded by fencing and contains a static home and several heavy-duty diggers.
Aerial images of the site show a concrete surface laid and fences erected to create five plots. Two caravans were present at the wildlife spot, which is known for muntjac deer, despite the temporary injunction prohibiting development and occupation.
Josh Dean, the Labour MP for Hertford and Stortford, expressed dismay at the 'flagrant disregard for the rules and the damage that has been done to our environment.' He called for legal changes to empower local authorities to address such activities swiftly.
Hertfordshire Constabulary confirmed that officers entered the site and that all individuals with unauthorized access departed peacefully following the service of an amended High Court injunction. The injunction allowed for potential arrest for activities prohibited by its terms, but no arrests were required.
A council spokesperson stated that they became aware of the works on August 29 and served a Temporary Stop Notice shortly after 10:45 a.m. that day. An urgent application for a High Court injunction was made, with the council's priority being to prevent occupation and unauthorized development.
The council is working with partners to secure an earlier court date for a hearing scheduled for September 15, as works were reportedly continuing. Sawbridgeworth is the latest location to experience such issues, following similar incidents involving travellers arriving with lorries and erecting fences.
Social media videos captured the sound of birdsong juxtaposed with the use of heavy machinery on the greenbelt land, which devastated residents concerned about the destruction of a wetland habitat. Neighbours reported feeling powerless and heartbroken by the rapid destruction of the area, which they described as a total devastation of nature.
This incident follows a pattern where travellers reportedly purchase land, often in affluent areas, and establish unauthorized sites. Residents expressed frustration that travellers did not follow standard planning and building procedures, highlighting the ignored stop notice and continued use of heavy machinery.