Illegal work in AONB causes 'damage and distress'

Unauthorised building work in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) has been compared to "an invasion" by residents.

Diggers and bulldozers arrived on Thursday at a field near the village of Flamstead on green belt land in the Chiltern Hills.

Caravans appeared on the site early on Easter Sunday despite a temporary stop notice - a planning enforcement tool used to halt work - being issued by Dacorum Borough Council on Saturday.

Hertfordshire Police said it was aware of an unauthorised encampment and was liaising with the borough council. The BBC has been unable to establish who owns the land.

"These works are unauthorised and are a serious breach of the planning process," said Sally Symington, the leader of Dacorum Borough Council.

She said the council was progressing an injunction to stop further works.

"I share residents' anger and devastation that a section of the community has ridden roughshod over the council's planning processes and has now breached the temporary stop notice and occupied the site," she added.

One resident told the BBC villagers had tried to stop other vehicles entering the site overnight by guarding the entrances.

But he said at about 06:00 BST on Sunday a "convoy of caravans" arrived and gained entry to the field.

Another resident, a man in his 50s, told the BBC: "The vans and caravans drove at us, basically, pushing their way through and bumping into people.

"They were determined to get through us and were really aggressive.

"It was absolutely horrendous," he said.

Police said no arrests had been made and said no police cars had been rammed, although residents had described seeing one shunted into a ditch.

Another resident told the BBC it had been "an absolute nightmare" and had felt like "an invasion".

Another said: "There was huge shock throughout the community when a seemingly never-ending convoy of large lorries full of brick rubble started rumbling through the village.

"Once we realised where it was going and why, people felt angry and confused - 'if there's no proper permission, how can this be allowed?'" they said.

"But the villagers are rallying round to show we really care for this beautiful place," they added.

Another resident said: "I have not been able to let the children out on their own or our dogs off leads, due to fear they may be run down by the many lorries hurtling through the village.

"We chose to live here many years ago for its beautiful countryside and wonderful community, and it breaks my heart to see the wildlife and nature being destroyed by mindless and thoughtless people."

Victoria Collins, the Liberal Democrat MP for Harpenden and Berkhamsted, said: "The works on this site have caused much distress to local people and damaged land in our precious Chiltern landscape.

"This temporary stop notice is the first step to ensuring that the right legal action is taken against unauthorised work."

She has reported the issue to the Environment Agency, which told the BBC it was working with Dacorum Borough Council.

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