4:02pm Thursday 8th May 2008
By Frank Smith
AN UNAUTHORISED travellers' camp has moved into an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in South Bucks.
More than ten caravans have taken over a field in Hughenden Valley, accompanied by 4X4 vehicles, quadbikes and ponies.
The travellers arrived on the Green Belt land, off Valley Road, on Tuesday night at around 7.30pm and are already causing a stir with residents.
The newcomers have said they will only be staying for a few more days but locals are still worried about the consequences of their stay.
Denise Ridley, who lives in Valley Road, does not think this has happened in the area before.
The housewife said: "It is such a lovely valley and they have come along and spoilt it. The views are spectacular along that road.
"Also we have a lot of wildlife there and they will be disrupting it.
"I think it will spoil the area. Absolutely."
She also feared the group may stay in the area for some time.
However one of the travellers said their stop should be a short one.
Jane Alwood, 37, said: "We are just staying here for a few days before moving on.
"We are just camping."
Another resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, said his new neighbours are constantly riding their quadbikes in the field.
The 42-year-old gardener said: "If you were trying to sell a house around here now, it would be unsellable.
"If any of our neighbours were riding a quadbike on the field then they would be kicked off but if you have a caravan, you are okay to do it."
Today, Buckinghamshire County Council will set about trying to remove the travellers as there is a condition on the land, which means they cannot stay there.
The site used to be a farm, but it was sold to a company which sold off the land in small pieces.
So Wycombe District Council applied to the Secretary of State to have a condition put in place to make sure nothing was built on the land.
This was granted in May 2003. And BCC are now going to use this legislation to try and remove the travellers from the land.
Gary Brewer, manager for Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Gypsy and Traveller services, said: "Hopefully we will be able to use the Town and Planning Act because it doesn't let anything happen on it. No markets or even clay pigeon shooting."
If the condition hadn't have been in place, the travellers could have stayed on the land for up to 28 days with the owner's permission before having to apply to the council for consent.
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