£40k cost of Fegg Hayes Gypsy land row - Staffordshire

From the Sentinel

MORE than £40,000 of taxpayers' cash has been spent to stop a patch of land being converted into a Travellers' camp.

A High Court injunction and other legal bills have cost Stoke-on-Trent City Council tens of thousands of pounds.

The rest of the sum has been spent on security measures around the field off Biddulph Road, Fegg Hayes.

Council officers secured the injunction in February, 2012, after bulldozers were used without warning to remove fences and trees, provoking community fears that Gypsies were planning to move in.

Now the council's costs are set to rise even more as the landowner has appealed against the council's injunction.

Council officer Harmesh Jassal said: "The council obtained an indefinite High Court injunction which prevents the site being used for any residential accommodation, including caravans, and for any materials being imported on to it.

"An enforcement notice was served on July 30, 2012, which requires the land to be returned to its previous state and the owner has appealed this notice.

"The enforcement notice is currently being decided by the planning inspectorate. We are continuing to monitor the site."

Part of the site is privately-owned, with the rest in council hands.

A planning application to knock down Verdun House, which is on the land, and build a replacement property has been put on hold pending the court action.

Residents today questioned why the council was having to fork out cash to protect the empty field.

Cameron James, aged 42, of Cumberbatch Avenue, Fegg Hayes, said: "I can't understand why this action is costing £40,000. If the people return without permission then they should just be arrested."

Mum-of-two Helen Kelsall, aged 28, of Bretherton Place, Chell Heath, said: "£40,000 is a lot to keep people off the land. There have been rumours Gypsies are trying to move in. Hopefully that won't happen."

Janet Williams, aged 59, of William Terrace, Fegg Hayes, said: "We haven't seen any Gypsies there for a while now and the council soon kicked them off.

Ever since then they have kept clear but I had heard they were trying to get back on again. We don't want Gypsies living so close to us. They seem to bring trouble"

The applicant behind the Verdun House plan was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Read more: http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/pound-40k-COST-GYPSY-LAND-ROW/story-19494167-detail/story.html#ixzz2YYOy0duH
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MORE than £40,000 of taxpayers' cash has been spent to stop a patch of land being converted into a Travellers' camp.

A High Court injunction and other legal bills have cost Stoke-on-Trent City Council tens of thousands of pounds.

The rest of the sum has been spent on security measures around the field off Biddulph Road, Fegg Hayes.

Council officers secured the injunction in February, 2012, after bulldozers were used without warning to remove fences and trees, provoking community fears that Gypsies were planning to move in.

Now the council's costs are set to rise even more as the landowner has appealed against the council's injunction.

Council officer Harmesh Jassal said: "The council obtained an indefinite High Court injunction which prevents the site being used for any residential accommodation, including caravans, and for any materials being imported on to it.

"An enforcement notice was served on July 30, 2012, which requires the land to be returned to its previous state and the owner has appealed this notice.

"The enforcement notice is currently being decided by the planning inspectorate. We are continuing to monitor the site."

Part of the site is privately-owned, with the rest in council hands.

A planning application to knock down Verdun House, which is on the land, and build a replacement property has been put on hold pending the court action.

Residents today questioned why the council was having to fork out cash to protect the empty field.

Cameron James, aged 42, of Cumberbatch Avenue, Fegg Hayes, said: "I can't understand why this action is costing £40,000. If the people return without permission then they should just be arrested."

Mum-of-two Helen Kelsall, aged 28, of Bretherton Place, Chell Heath, said: "£40,000 is a lot to keep people off the land. There have been rumours Gypsies are trying to move in. Hopefully that won't happen."

Janet Williams, aged 59, of William Terrace, Fegg Hayes, said: "We haven't seen any Gypsies there for a while now and the council soon kicked them off.

Ever since then they have kept clear but I had heard they were trying to get back on again. We don't want Gypsies living so close to us. They seem to bring trouble"

The applicant behind the Verdun House plan was unavailable for comment yesterday.