How people-power fought unauthorised development

Another bank holiday, another community shocked by the rapid transformation of green space that did not have planning permission. However, residents in the small Hertfordshire town of Sawbridgeworth and the local council fought back. By Monday morning, the diggers were leaving.

With similar cases seemingly on the rise, what did the people of Sawbridgeworth do to win this sudden battle?

Sawbridgeworth is a popular commuter town near the Essex border, which made headlines in 1999 when David and Victoria Beckham bought their mansion, dubbed Beckingham Palace.

The town sits on the River Stort, which runs past the field in question, just off Sheering Mill Lane.

Residents said the area was rich in wildlife.

"There are lots of birds, lots of reptiles, you've got crested newts, apparently badgers, muntjac deer - but it's all gone," said Liz Coxhall.

Neil Leighton, 56, runs a handyman business and has lived locally for more than 30 years.

"We walk round here a lot: It's a really nice area, it's very green, you can see the canal," he explained.

Sawbridgeworth's mayor, Angus Parsad-Wyatt, told the BBC: "It is important to say this is a flood plain, a nature reserve, a wildlife area and, so, this is not just about travellers moving into a site and a random piece of field.

"This is a part of the town that everyone really cares about."

Local independent councillor Greg Rattey said "huge lorries" brought Tarmac and fencing to the site on Friday.

Josh Dean, the Labour MP for Hertford and Stortford, said on Saturday that residents were expecting to see the land "decimated" by the end of the bank holiday weekend.

But East Herts Council obtained a High Court injunction to temporarily block further development or occupation by caravans.

This was issued at 22:30 BST on Saturday, but diggers were seen still being used on Sunday and Monday morning.

Hundreds of local people arrived to carry out what they described as a peaceful protest on Sheering Mill Lane over the weekend.

"It was the nature of how it was done, by stealth and underhand tactics," said Carl Williams, 49.

Another resident, Theresa, said: "I was absolutely horrified to see the diggers and lorries on site."

Marylin Taylor, 80, added: "It's not obeying the laws of the land – we've all got to live by the rules, haven't we?"

Parsad-Wyatt added the "peaceful protest" from residents gave the police a reason to close the road, which meant access for construction vehicles was blocked.

"In parallel, East Herts Council was able to get time in front of a judge again to see if we could get an update to the injunction."

A judge did issue an updated injunction which gave police powers of arrest and was delivered at about 02:00 BST on Monday.

Hertfordshire Police said officers entered the site later that morning and all those who had unauthorised access "left the site peacefully".

No arrests were necessary, they said.

Parsad-Wyatt continued: "This has shown Sawbridgeworth at its absolute best.

"Everyone's been out here maintaining - peacefully - this presence on site throughout, and in doing so, allowing the pressure to push through the system to get the powers the police need.

"The crucial thing [is] if anyone accesses the site or continues work, they are in contempt of court, so the police can remove them."

Salvatore Pagdades, chairman of the Sawbridgeworth Town Council Planning Committee, said the whole town came "together" to "make its voice heard".

"Residents care deeply about protecting their town and about having a planning system that is fair, respected and applies equally to everyone," he said.

"The strength of feeling we have seen reflects just how important those principles are to people here."

Green councillor Vicky Glover-Ward, the executive member for planning and growth at East Herts Council, said a "collective effort" had helped bring the "unauthorised works to an end".

"I hope this sends a clear message that we will use every tool available to us to take decisive action when unauthorised development takes place."

This year has seen several cases of the construction of traveller sites that did not have planning permission:

• Retrospective application made for travellers' site in Essex
• Travellers leave site in Herts after High Court injunction
• Travellers 'forced to break the law'
• Councillors vow to take action over travellers' site in Bedfordshire
• Illegal work damaging green belt in Chilterns AONB

The injunction runs until 15 September when a further court hearing is due to take place.

Resident Carl Williams said: "The police have showed up which is amazing for us. Because work has stopped, that's meaningful action.

"We'll have to see what pans out for the next couple of weeks when it goes to court.

"Hopefully we're able to move to the next stage of eventual restoration."

A woman, who did not wish to be named, said while it was "great news" that the injunction had stopped immediate work, "I don't think the initial danger is completely over".

"I think everybody needs to keep aware that things might still happen," she said.

Do you have a story suggestion for Beds, Herts or Bucks? Contact us below.

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.