Residents of a Merseyside village say they are living with "fear, anxiety, and stress" as an unauthorised encampment on green belt land enters its third month. Caravans and machinery moved onto a private plot of land in Wirral in late August.
Concerns raised at planning committee
Dozens of Irby residents attended a meeting of Wirral Council's planning committee to raise concerns over the encampment off Townshend Avenue, and the council's handling of the issue. On August 27, the council was alerted to the unauthorised activities taking place on the land.
Soon after the encampment appeared, local councillor and chair of the council's economy, regeneration and housing committee, Mark Skillicorn, described the situation as "an unprecedented scenario for Wirral Council due to the land ownership". This is because, as the councillor explained, the work is being undertaken by the land's new owners.
Temporary stop notice and legal limits
The following day, the council issued a temporary stop notice (TSN) which required certain operational and engineering works on the land to be stopped. However, the council could not order the clearance of the site.
Several weeks on, residents have joined Cllr Skillicorn in speaking at a planning committee meeting, seeking further information on what the council plans to do with the site, especially following the expiration of the TSN, which will last until October 22. In addition to asking what will happen after October 22, Cllr Skillicorn asked the chair of the planning committee, Cllr Stuart Kelly: "When will an injunction to remove the unauthorised works and dwellings be sought?"
Residents describe impact on daily life
Paul Hughes, a member of the public, told the committee the ongoing situation has led to "fear, anxiety and stress" among the people of Irby who, he said, "feel powerless, unheard, and dismissed". He added: "Residents have had to change behaviours, installing CCTV, additional security measures, taking alternative routes to school and work, and avoiding contact with site occupiers."
The residents also cited constant loud noises coming from the site from generators and heavy machinery.
Retrospective planning application submitted
Responding to the concerns of the local councillor and residents, the committee chair confirmed the site is subject to a live planning application. Cllr Kelly explained an application has been submitted to the council seeking retrospective permission for change of use of the land to form "a three-pitch gypsy and traveller site".
Cllr Kelly told the committee the application is not yet valid due to the plans containing insufficient detail. However, the applicant and agent have indicated they will be providing more information in order to make the application valid, at which point it would appear on the council's planning portal and members of the public would be able to comment on the plans.
Despite the residents' concerns, Cllr Kelly explained that enforcement officers do not believe the terms of the TSN have been breached. Addressing a number of the issues raised by members of the public, Cllr Kelly added: "Whilst unfortunate, tree clearance, wood chipping, and loud machinery noises are not breaches of planning control as they do not constitute development."
