Council gets injunctions over travellers (From This Is Local London)

Council gets injunctions over travellers

6:14pm Friday 1st May 2009 in News By Oliver Evans

The travellers said they want a "place to call home"

A COUNCIL has obtained a High Court injunction over two traveller-related sites near Princes Risborough.

Wycombe District Council got the injunctions over two sites in the Hemley Hill area, the authority said this afternoon.

One was sought as council said it feared the land would be sold and used as a traveller site “in the near future”.

It said it had a “status quo” injunction over another Green Belt site which travellers moved onto earlier this month.

The authority had also issued a stop notice after building work began at the site, in Upper Icknield Way, just off Shootacre Lane.

A council statement said: “The injunction came into effect from yesterday and seeks to retain the status quo and prevent all future development on the site.

“The letter which will be served on the parties today makes clear that the order prohibits all further development including laying of hardcore and swapping of caravans or replacement of the caravans with mobile homes.

“Any further development will amount to a breach of the order could be in contempt of court and subject to criminal proceedings.”

The order prohibits the land from being used for housing, storage of vehicles and development.

The second “pre-emptive” injunction is for nearby land at Shootacre Lane, Saunderton.

This prohibits use of the land for housing, including mobile homes, and development.

The statement said: “The reason for this pre-emptive injunction is that the council had reason to believe that there was the possibility that the land could be sold and used for this purpose in the near future and wished to protect the land from development.

“The council will continue to monitor the sites and assess what further action is appropriate.”

Travellers have said they want a “place to call home” to raise their children (see links, below).