A group of suspected travellers have taken over a massive field in the South Downs National Park after the land was illegally ripped up by developers over the Bank Holiday weekend.
At least 10 vehicles, including seven caravans and motorhomes, have pitched up on what has become a building site at Blind Lane, near Petworth in West Sussex.
Residents in nearby sleepy villages were stunned to hear and see industrial diggers tearing up a field on Friday morning.
The work, which involved several industrial vehicles ploughing through the fields, started without planning permission.
Builders arrived at the site on Friday and work continued over the Bank Holiday weekend despite council notices and visits from Sussex Police.
Local MP Andrew Griffith said he shared the ‘outrage’ of residents and accused the developers of ‘making a mockery’ of planning laws.
Furious locals are now demanding answers after the unknown group bulldozed their way onto the land and transformed the green sprawling field into a building site.
It since appears to have been taken over by travellers who have parked up caravans and motorhomes in the corner of the site, which is three miles from the home of former footballer and actor Vinnie Jones’s farm near Petworth.
At least 10 vehicles, including seven caravans and motorhomes, have pitched up on what has become a building site at Blind Lane, near Petworth in West Sussex
It comes after the field was ripped up and turned into a building site over the weekend
Industrial vehicles tore apart the fields, which is believed to have taken place without planning permission
A female council planning officer posted a second notice on the gate to the site on Monday as three men carried on working. An earlier order to stop work was ignored.
Chichester District Council planning officers are understood to have attended on Friday to serve a Stop notice. Sussex Police are believed to have visited the site on Saturday.
The open countryside patch of land was cleared and levelled over the weekend.
By Sunday afternoon, a septic tank was seen being delivered to the site as well as more gravel.
Mr Griffith responded after furious locals posted on social media.
The MP for Arundel and South Downs said: ‘I completely share the outrage and concern of residents about this illegal breach of all respected planning standards and behaviour.
‘It makes a mockery of a system where we all jump through lengthy and costly hoops to install a dormer window when such brazen breaches happen unchecked.
‘After I initially became aware, early on Friday morning I contacted Chichester District Council and the South Downs National Park insisting that the local council issue an emergency stop notice – which they did.
Aerial views show how the fields were destroyed near Blind Lane, Petworth, West Sussex
The area has now been taken over by caravans and motorhomes
A digger is seen at the site where works without planning permission has been condemned
‘Continuing to work on the site is now an offence.
‘Chichester District Council have wide enforcement powers including the ability to enter a site and mount prosecutions and there is no excuse for them not having cover over bank holiday weekends when we know this sort of incident is most likely to take place.’
A spokesperson for Sussex Police told MailOnline: ‘Police are aware of concerns about development of a site in Blind Lane, Petworth.
‘This is a civil matter and we are liaising with the relevant local authorities and South Downs National Park Authority as lead agencies.’
A spokesperson for Chichester District Council said: ‘We were made aware of unauthorised engineering operations at a site near Lurgashall on Friday morning.
‘We immediately sent planning enforcement officers out to assess the site and this led to a temporary stop notice being served that day. As the notice has been breached, and caravans have now entered the site, we are taking further legal steps including seeking an injunction through the courts.
‘We take these matters incredibly seriously. We have planning rules in place to protect areas of countryside in our district, including the South Downs National Park, and if harmful development is carried out then we will take appropriate enforcement action.
‘We want to assure the community that we are doing everything in our power to respond to this. We will also be working with those on the site, local parish councils, and the local community, to offer support.’
A spokesman for the South Downs National Park Authority said: ‘We are appalled at the unauthorised works taking place on this site in the National Park, which has been designated on behalf of the entire nation for its natural beauty, biodiversity and heritage.
‘We acted urgently and multiple visits have been made by officers last week and over the Bank Holiday weekend to monitor the situation and take the action we can through the planning system.
‘Chichester District Council are acting on behalf of the South Downs National Park Authority and relevant enforcement proceedings have started. Both Authorities are working in partnership to consider and prepare for the next steps which include court action.
‘We take breaches of planning and unauthorised development very seriously and will continue to work together to resolve the situation.’
