High Court extends injunction on traveller site

A High Court judge has agreed to temporarily extend an injunction, preventing further development on a field without planning permission.

Work began on land in Willows Green, near Felsted, Essex, within hours of the local council shutting for the early May bank holiday weekend.

The majority of the four-acre (1.6ha) field was turned into a dozen plots with several caravans moved on site before a temporary stop notice was issued by Uttlesford District Council, followed by a court injunction.

Extending it until another hearing in June, Deputy Judge Clare Padley warned the defendant that any breach of the injunction could result in prosecution.

Willows Green residents told the BBC that the construction work over the three-day weekend had been like "a military operation", with dozens of vehicles delivering tonnes of hardcore, fencing materials and septic tanks.

The court heard how there had been 140 complaints to the local council from concerned residents.

The deputy judge said although the temporary stop notice had been placed on the site on the Tuesday morning, construction work had continued in violation of the notice, and that there had been a "real and imminent" threat that more construction work would have taken place without the injunction being enforced.

Representing Uttlesford District Council, the claimant, Caroline Bolton said there was evidence there appeared to be further activity on the site, although the deputy judge said she had received no evidence of any current occupation.

The court was told that it was a green-field site in open countryside, classified as agricultural land.

The council received an application via its online planning portal - after construction work had begun - to change the use of the site to 12 traveller pitches.

HM Land Registry records show that UK Real Estate and Land 2 Limited bought the land for £125,000 in April 2025, with the court hearing on Wednesday that the land may have recently been transferred.

In court papers posted on telegraph poles and gates at the site, the lead defendant was identified as Anthony Mongon, with other defendants unnamed.

Mongon's name was listed on the retrospective planning application, the court heard.

Representing Mongon in court on Wednesday, Tahseen Choudhry said there were 14 traveller families interested in the site.

The deputy judge told Choudhry to make it clear to Mongon and the other defendants that any breach of the injunction could lead to further action, including contempt of court proceedings.

The case was adjourned and will return to the High Court on 18 June 2026 for a one-day hearing.

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