Family settles in wood

Wealden planning officers were recommending to councillors yesterday that enforcement action should be taken to stop the residential use of the land and remove all signs of habitation from the wood.

They said in their report to the development control north sub-committee that the planning agent had said his clients intended to go all the way in fighting the case.

The five are living in two double decker buses each with lean-to extensions within Quicken Wood on the B2192 at Blackboys. They also have a compost toilet, two wind turbines, a solar panel and a number of chicken sheds and dog kennels as well as another building and vehicles.

When officers visited the site in September one of the new owners of the land, Mr Scott, said they were living on the land and working on the woodland. He said he had been advised he had more chance of getting planning permission if he did it retrospectively.

Attractive

A retrospective application has since been submitted by Mr B. Scott and Mr C. Flynn.

In the report the site was described as being in 'an extremely attractive area of countryside within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty'. There had been strong local concern from the parish council and residents about the continuing breach of planning control on the land.

'It has been clear from officers' site visits that little or no genuine forestry work has been carried out on the land. It is also the clear view of the council's arboricultural officer that the limited management requirements of this woodland do not in any way justify the unauthorised uses and structures now in evidence on site.'

The report concluded: 'Enforcement action as recommended is now considered necessary and appropriate to remove these breaches of planning control and to restore the rural and visual amenities of this part of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.'