A FAMILY of seven travellers have pitched camp in a Bletchingley field.
In November a plan for a gypsy pitch – consisting of a mobile home, a caravan and a septic tank – on land off Warwick Wold Road was refused by Tandridge District Council's planning committee.
But on January 3 a mobile home and a caravan were moved on to the site regardless, prompting outrage locally. The council has established it is the same family which put in the planning application, but warned it may take many weeks before the vehicles can be removed.
The family were evicted by the council from their home in Kenrick Square last November because of antisocial behaviour.
One Warwick Wold Road resident said on Thursday: "This is a clear disregard of the planning laws. Some neighbours here were refused planning permission to build extensions, but they toed the line afterwards."
Helena Windsor of Surrey County Council said: "They have totally ignored the council's decision and gone ahead anyway.
"This is unacceptable on green belt land and in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
"Unfortunately the legal wheels to get this resolved can grind very slowly."
Hilary Orr, the council's enforcement officer, said: "We are seeking details of who is on the land before taking enforcement action. The family has appealed against the refusal of planning permission so the whole thing is likely to be a protracted issue."
At November's planning committee meeting Rebecca Roberts, from the Warwick Wold Residents' Association, said: "The family have been evicted for antisocial behaviour after the destruction of their council house. This [pitch] would be encroachment on the countryside."
