Dacorum Borough Council is awaiting a court hearing date after securing an emergency injunction against travellers who bulldozed protected green belt countryside during the Easter bank holiday in what residents believe was a calculated strategy to exploit slower official responses over the four-day weekend.
Approximately ten caravans and mobile homes have established themselves on a Friendless Lane field near Flamstead village in Hertfordshire—an area of outstanding natural beauty on the Chiltern Hills cusp—following Thursday evening’s initial arrivals that locals claim involved violent confrontations and property damage.
An anonymous parish councillor alleged the group deliberately targeted the extended holiday period, stating: “They knew that over a bank holiday, councils and courts are effectively closed and they can do as much damage as possible before anyone starts to do anything about it.”
The councillor described Thursday’s 7pm incursion: “A whole load of travellers barged their way through. There was a lot of violent abuse and threats, people wielding iron bars, a few cars were damaged, they drove into a police car and drove past.”
Some villagers attempted guarding field entrances overnight to protect the land, though heavy vehicles pushed through their defensive positions as bulldozers and caravans flooded the site throughout the bank holiday weekend.
Borough council leader Sally Symington confirmed she shares residents’ “anger and devastation” over the green belt violation, with a council spokesman stating: “This order was successfully granted by the court, and the council served papers on the site prohibiting any unauthorised works or use of the site. We now must wait for the courts to schedule a hearing date before further legal proceedings can take place.”
Hertfordshire Constabulary confirmed ongoing situation monitoring whilst investigating multiple allegations including criminal damage, traffic offences and threatening behaviour from “several parties involved.”
“While the civil matter is being led by Dacorum Borough Council, we are continuing to monitor the situation and a police presence remains in the area to prevent a breach of the peace and deal with any criminal matters,” a force spokesperson stated, emphasising police lack enforcement powers preventing land access or halting building work.
The parish councillor characterised the green belt and outstanding beauty area designation as a “double whammy” intensifying the violation’s significance.
Narrow rural roads surrounding the area have become blockaded by heavy machinery as construction activity continues pending the scheduled court hearing.
An Environment Agency spokesman told The Telegraph: “We are aware of concerns regarding a site near Flamstead in Hertfordshire and are currently working with Dacorum Borough Council in relation to this site.”
