LAND GRAB IN SAWBRIDGEWORTH: OUR PARISH AT RISK
As most residents will be aware, over the recent Bank Holiday weekend unusual activity was seen in the field containing the red caravan on the south side of Kettle Green Lane, just beyond Moor Place Park. Concerns as to the future of this site had arisen previously when it was marketed for sale in plots. A section of hedgerow dividing the field and KGL had been levelled and the fence flattened, with a section left open to the road. Residents reported that a van and two cars had been seen in the field and that the vegetation in the field had been cut to form a large rectangular strip. A number of blue marker posts were visible, as though marking the site for development of some kind.
A resident contacted a member of the Parish Council who went to the site to take stock. He advised the resident immediately to report the matter to EHC’s Planning Department, which the resident did, and to advise other residents and encourage them also to report their concerns. The police were informed, and some residents made visits to the site over the weekend to check for any further unusual activity. The Planning Department moved quickly and launched an investigation into the possible unauthorised formation of an access to the field and change of use of the land.
No further unusual activity has been observed since then and the reasons why these changes to the site were made has not been established. However, residents’ concern was that the field might be about to be subject to an illegal “land grab” similar to what had happened the same weekend at Sawbridgeworth when a greenfield site was entered illegally by lorries laden with construction materials and the site was cleared in a carefully planned operation. It was only through a combination of the prompt intervention of East Herts Council to obtain two injunctions (the latter to give the police power to arrest those breaching the first injunction) and of local residents to form a human barrier to block off the entrance to the site that further damage to the site was avoided.
A similar event took place in Felsted over the May Bank Holiday, when around 30 lorries delivering hardcore, fencing and septic tanks arrived under cover of darkness on a 4 acres site (a home to deer and other species), created a new access point and concreted the site over. Those involved followed up recently by making an application for retrospective planning approval for 12 mobile houses, touring caravans and “dayroom buildings,” to be laid out in individual plots on the site.
Irrespective of whatever the reasons for the reasons for the developments which were witnessed at the Kettle Green Lane site may have been, it is clear that our Parish, like much of the country needs to be alive to the threat of land grabs. What, then, can residents do to combat this threat should it arise:
- Be vigilant, especially over holiday periods when the Planning Department at EHC may be closed or understaffed;
- Report any unusual activity immediately by email and, if possible, by phone (01279 655261) to East Herts Planning, and to the police. Inform the Parish Council but don’t delay in reporting it to Planning and don’t leave it to someone else! Details of how to contact Planning can be found on the EHC website; and;
- Inform others and invite them to get involved. The intervention of local residents in Sawbridgeworth was critical to protect the site and “buy time” to enable the Council to obtain the necessary injunctions.
The problem is a national one and a petition: “Criminalise unauthorised development & ban retrospective permission” is calling for stronger planning and enforcement powers, including action to increase protection from development going ahead without planning permission, shut down the possibility of retrospective planning permission being granted where there has been a “landgrab”, and generally strengthen the response to unlawful occupation and development.
The petition needs 10,000 positive responses to receive a formal Government response. If a 100,000-signature threshold is reached the matter will considered for debate in Parliament.
If you believe that our planning system requires to be more robust to prevent land grabs and protect property rights and our rural communities, the link is below and you are invited to share it with friends, neighbours and local community groups.
👉 Sign the petition here:
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