Unauthorised Traveller sites trigger legal challenges by councils

The unauthorised arrival of Travellers at multiple sites across southern England over the Easter period has triggered legal challenges - but with locals up in arms, resolving the disputes is a complex process.

At one of the locations - a four-acre site at Alfold in Surrey - an interim injunction has been issued following an emergency application to the High Court.

It orders the Travellers not to further develop their camp pending another court hearing in a few weeks.

Michael Lord, chair of Alfold Parish Council, said: "Everyone is watching the Travellers with eagle eyes - if they try to deliver more static caravans, that will be a material breach of the court-ordered injunction and the police could get involved."

Fundamentally, this is a planning issue - as the Travellers say they own the land. But they didn't have planning permission to set up their new community.

Locals say since the Travellers arrived over Easter, they have created 17 plots and have moved in around half a dozen static caravans.

It was also claimed that the so-called 'stop notices', issued by the borough council before the interim injunction was secured, were ignored.

"Nobody knows for sure when the Travellers bought the land, but we think it was sold by a property developer in the last few weeks. If somebody else owns it, they likely [would] have piped up," Mr Lord said.

"The interim injunction means nothing further can take place on that land. A Stop Notice is only issued by the borough council and has less weight than a court judgment.

"Technically, now if the Travellers continue, that could be criminal. In theory, they could be fined or arrested.

"Everyone in the village is very, very upset. People living within 100 meters of the entrance are literally distraught. They're fearful and feel intimidated.

"All over the Easter weekend, there were bright lights, generators running all day and all night. Building work from early in the morning until late at night."

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A further hearing is scheduled to take place on 21 April, when the Travellers can put their case for moving onto the Surrey site.

Other sites in Kent and Hertfordshire were also occupied over the Easter weekend.

Councils in England have a statutory responsibility to assess the accommodation necessary for Gypsies and Travellers and identify land for sites to meet their needs, aiming to reduce unauthorised developments.

A spokesperson for Surrey Police said: "We are aware of a large number of vehicles and people on a site on Loxwood Road in Alford (sic).

"We have visited the area along with Waverley Borough Council to engage with those at the site, as well as local residents.

"No criminal offences have been identified by police. The development of the site is a planning permission issue, which is being led by Waverley Borough Council."

(c) Sky News 2026: Unauthorised Traveller sites trigger legal challenges by councils