Surrey Village Plunged into Planning Nightmare
Wealthy residents of an exclusive Surrey village say they are living in a nightmare after a picturesque field next to their multi-million pound homes was sold to travellers, who promptly tarmacked it over and erected high fences in a covert overnight operation. The incident, which began on October 24th, has left the community in the stockbroker belt village of Ockham reeling, with residents reporting sleepless nights and fears over plummeting property values.
An Overnight Transformation Sparks Fury
For years, residents of Ockham, where some properties are valued at almost £2.3 million, enjoyed views over the 1.5-acre greenbelt site, which is also a designated conservation area. This changed abruptly when local landowner James Frances auctioned off the plot near his own £3 million home. It is unknown if Mr Frances knew the identity of the buyers, who property experts say acquired land that could be worth £5 million on the open market with planning permission, for a mere £175,000.
Without any warning, the new owners waited for nightfall before a convoy of at least 50 trucks and diggers descended on the land. Residents awoke to the sound of machinery tearing down hedges and foliage. "There were lorries lined up all along the road," one anonymous neighbour told the Daily Mail. "They were going in and out of there until 2 o'clock in the morning... It really has been quite dreadful."
Over the weekend, while the local council offices were closed, work continued unabated. By Sunday, most of the site was covered in tarmac, a new access road had been created, and various caravans and motorhomes were parked on the formerly pristine field. The new inhabitants also reportedly cut down protected oak trees, further inflaming local anger.
Council Action and Community Fear
Police were called to the scene on October 24th but, after verifying proof of ownership, departed, explaining it was a civil matter. The situation has left residents feeling helpless and fearful. "People are on tenterhooks," a neighbour confessed. "We've had to go back to things like locking our cars... This headache is right on our doorstep and it's devaluing our properties by the day." Many in the affluent area are reportedly too scared to speak out, even anonymously, due to fears of repercussions.
The tension was palpable this week as council staff were seen in tense conversations with some of the travellers, who were heard telling them to "get off" their land. A spokesman for Guildford Borough Council confirmed they are treating the issue as a priority. Cllr Julia McShane, Leader of the Council, stated: "We are assessing the case fully and considering all enforcement options... We take any planning breach in our borough extremely seriously." The council is seeking legal advice about a possible High Court injunction.
Local MP Zoe Franklin has also become involved, posting on Facebook that she is in regular contact with the council. Meanwhile, Mr and Mrs Frances have declined to comment on the sale that has thrown their neighbourhood into chaos, leaving a community to watch as a cherished green space vanishes under concrete.
