DISMAYED locals looked on in horror as travellers tarmacked over a large field in their peaceful village over the weekend.
Helpless residents said they saw heavy machinery brought in to cover the tree-lined field in an unauthorised construction.
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Travellers have torn up fields and tarmacked over a field in West Sussex Credit: SWNS
The peaceful village was disturbed by diggers and lorries over the weekend Credit: SWNS
The development in West Chiltington, West Sussex, reportedly began on Friday and continued over the weekend.
The land, near world-renowned English sparkling wine estate Nyetimber, was tarmacked over alongside the arrival of diggers and lorries.
One resident said the work had continued despite the presence of both the council and police on Friday.
They said: “We believe it is a traveller site. There were lots of lorries and other vehicles.
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“The local council and police were here then, but the work carried on.”
Another said he had not seen any planning notices go up before the work began.
“They started on Friday and there have been lots of vehicles. You can hear the work is still going on,” he added.
The local council said it had been given word that “unauthorised works” on a site at Clayes Farm were likely to go ahead over the weekend.
A spokesperson added it had served a temporary stop notice on the land early on Saturday.
Despite these notices, drone images of the site show beautiful green countryside with a new swathe of tarmac laid over the top of one of the fields.
It is understood there are already several mobile homes ready to move onto the newly tarred land.
Horsham District Council said it was continuing its investigation into the site, adding this “may result in further formal action”.
Similar land-grabs took part in other places over the weekend, including at sites in Essex and Kent.
It is part of a trend in which travellers buy land, then take advantage of empty council offices over bank holiday weekends to spring up unauthorised developments.
The same occurred over the Easter weekend last month, where several operations saw beauty spots and quiet villages disturbed by unauthorised works.
Typically, those who build the sites then apply for retrospective planning permission – after they have already done the work.
Horsham District Council said: “Following reports received last week that unauthorised works at a site on land south of Clayes Farm in Broadford Bridge Road, West Chiltington, were likely to take place over the bank holiday weekend, Horsham district council prepared temporary stop notices which were issued and served on the land early on the morning of Saturday, May 23.
“Investigations are continuing, which may result in further formal action.”
A Sussex Police spokesman said: “[We] can confirm officers attended to prevent a breach of peace, in support of the local authority as the lead agency.”
The Jattvibe has contacted the council and police force for further comment.
