Council secures injunction to stop work on traveller site in Northamptonshire village

South Northamptonshire Council sought the injunction to prevent work being carried out land just off the A508 near the village, and it was confirmed yesterday (April 20) that its application to the High Court in Birmingham had been successful.

It came after it appeared that work appeared to be taking place to prepare for development on the site, despite planning permission previously being refused.

The council’s planning committee refused planning permission on the site in July 2017, deeming it an ‘unacceptable intrusion into the open countryside’ and that the application did not include safe access to and from the A508.

Councillor Phil Bignell, the council’s deputy leader and portfolio holder for planning, said the granting of the injunction would ‘protect the village from an entirely unsuitable development’.

He said: “We’d like to acknowledge the work of our planning enforcement team in securing a permanent injunction to prevent development on a plot of land in Yardley Gobion, where the previous planning application had been rejected, but where we had good reason to suspect that development work was imminent.

“The team successfully sought a temporary injunction from the High Court immediately before Easter and have now succeeded in securing an ongoing injunction.

“Should any works commence, we’ll now be able to take prompt and decisive action, supported by the police, rather than have to wait for the matter to drag through lengthy processes.

“We are all under a lot of pressure because of the coronavirus pandemic, but this is a superb example of our staff keeping their eye on the ball and keeping essential public services operating smoothly.”