Villagers left stunned after Travellers transform field into caravan park in days near Leeds

Villagers have been left stunned after Travellers transform a four acre field into a caravan park in just days.

The unauthorised work began on land off Betteras Hill Road, near Hillam, west of Selby, North Yorks, earlier this month (September 11), SWNS reports.

Residents reported flurries of HGVs delivering tonnes of hardcore and building material with heavy machinery like diggers delivered to start excavation work.

Aerial photos have since captured, in just 10 days, the scale of the development with at least 22 caravans spaced across seven individual pitches.

Reform Councillor Tim Grogan, who represents Monk Fryston and South Milford, said: “The speed at which 30 to 40 individuals were working was astonishing. They were in diggers, they were in road rollers.

"They were all working like hell, grafting, putting fences up, drilling holes. The site is now covered in tonnes and tonnes of hardcore.

"I predicted it was going to happen after it was bought days before. I have never felt so low as a councillor when residents called me about work going on."

Wooden fences have also been erected, as well as septic tanks and astro turf. No planning application has been submitted for the works, according to the North Yorkshire Council (NYC) planning page.

Chiefs served a temporary stop notice on Monday, September 14, ordering the works to stop.

Though Hillam Parish Council have said it has been breached and called on local authority to take further action.

Bosses have since confirmed they managed to land an "interim injunction from the High Court preventing any further unauthorised development" on Saturday (September 19).

It is claimed that land was sold for £130,000 on Monday, September 7 on the basis it would be used for horse grazing.

One concerned local, who did not want to provide their name, has since said the sudden arrival and scale of the site has caused "considerable concern" among the community.

They claim they were first alerted to work when drivers of delivery vehicles, carrying septic tanks and wood, asked for directions to the site.

Betteras Hill Road is single-track and connects the village to the A162 and is largely populated by fields with around 20 houses on its route, particularly close to the village.

Cllr Grogan claims he warned North Yorkshire Council several weeks ago that the land might be used for a Traveller site before contacting them again when materials began arriving on Friday.

He said residents of Hillam and surrounding villages were "furious" and says the council should have acted sooner.

He said: “Villages feel betrayed and they feel helpless.”

Nic Harne, North Yorkshire Council’s corporate director for community development, said: “On Saturday, we secured an interim injunction from the High Court preventing any further unauthorised development at the site near Hillam.

“The order, which had been prepared earlier in the week, was served immediately by our planning enforcement officers, supported by North Yorkshire Police.

“The injunction prohibits any further caravans being brought onto the land, the construction of additional structures, the installation of services or drainage, and the importation of materials or laying of hardstanding.

He continued: “We recognise the concern caused within the local community and have kept elected members and the parish council informed throughout and we will continue to provide updates as the case progresses.

“In addition, we will continue to monitor the site closely to ensure compliance with both the injunction and the Temporary Stop Notice which was issued on September 14.

“The court has listed a further hearing in a months’ time to determine whether the interim injunction should continue in place.

“We will continue to take all appropriate action available to us to protect the interests of residents, ensure compliance with planning law and pursue matters through the courts where necessary.”