Wirral Council has served a formal planning enforcement notice requiring an unauthorised encampment on green belt land at Townshend Avenue, Irby, to cease. The notice demands that residential use of the land stop, caravans and associated infrastructure be removed, and the land be restored.
Background to the Enforcement Action
In late August, caravans and machinery were moved onto a private plot of green belt land in the Wirral village. Local councillor Mark Skillicorn described the situation at the time as "an unprecedented scenario for Wirral Council" because the land is owned by those who set up the encampment.
The council initially issued a temporary stop notice (TSN) requiring certain operational and engineering works to stop, but it could not order the site to be cleared. Frustrated by a perceived lack of action, dozens of Irby residents attended a meeting of the council's planning committee to call for further action.
Residents' Concerns
Local resident Paul Hughes told the committee that the situation has led to "fear, anxiety and stress" among the people of Irby, who, he said, "feel powerless, unheard, and dismissed".
The TSN expired on October 22. Cllr Skillicorn, who also chairs the council's economy, regeneration, and housing committee, confirmed the new enforcement notice has now been served.
Next Steps
Cllr Skillicorn said: "The notice requires the residential use of the land to cease, the caravans and associated infrastructure to be removed, and the land to be restored."
The occupants of the land have until November 22 to appeal.
