Gipsies in green-belt site battle evicted

Doncaster Council was forced to obtain the injunctions over the plot of land at Stockbridge Lane, Bentley, north of the town centre, after local residents complained about the development of the site in late July.

Officers said walls along the 
land had been bulldozed into 
a field, hedges had been removed, trees uprooted and branches 
torn off with “massive amounts 
of rubble piled onto the
land”.

A temporary stop notice was issued by the authority on July 28, but this was ignored, with gipsies continuing to construct plots, leading to the application for a High Court injunction made on July 30.

The council said a further visit by council and police officers a week later found that the second order had also been ignored, with further caravans brought onto the site with people taking up residence.

A second injunction evicting the gipsies was granted by High Court judges on August 8 which led to the departure of most of the group, but some remained until Wednesday.

The group that refused to move has now been ordered to pay £8,000 costs incurred by the taxpayer in obtaining the injunctions after the High Court found they were in contempt of court.

Coun Cynthia Ransome, Doncaster Council’s environment spokesman, said yesterday: “The High Court has sent out a very clear message that occupation of illegal sites, without the necessary planning approvals will not be tolerated.

“I am pleased that they have supported the efforts of the council and police teams who have worked together during this legal process.”