District council to pursue injunction after illegal works on South Downs site

Residents in the sleepy West Sussex village of Lurgashall woke up to the sound of industrial diggers on Friday morning (May 3), as extensive earthworks took place on a field off Blind Lane, near Screech Copse.

It seems the works, which involve several industrial vehicles, started without planning permission over the weekend. For area MP Andrew Griffith, it represents an “illegal breach of all respected planning standards and behaviour.”

"It makes a mockery of a system where we all jump through lengthy and costly hoops to install a dormer window when such brazen breaches happen unchecked,” he told constituents.

"After I initially became aware, early on Friday morning I contacted Chichester District Council and the South Downs National Park insisting that the local council issue an emergency stop notice - which they did. Continuing to work on the site is now an offence.

"Chichester District Council have wide enforcement powers including the ability to enter a site and mount prosecutions and there is no excuse for them not having cover over bank holiday weekends when we know this sort of incident is most likely to take place.”

Photos sent to the Chichester Observer on Tuesday (May 6) show several caravans parked up on the land, not long after the departure of the heavy goods vehicles.

Now, a spokesperson for Chichester District Council has reassured residents that they are taking the matter seriously.

“We were made aware of unauthorised engineering operations at a site near Lurgashall on Friday morning,” they said. “We immediately sent planning enforcement officers out to assess the site and this led to a temporary stop notice being served that day.

"As the notice has been breached, and caravans have now entered the site, we are taking further legal steps including seeking an injunction through the courts.

"We take these matters incredibly seriously. We have planning rules in place to protect areas of countryside in our district, including the South Downs National Park, and if harmful development is carried out then we will take appropriate enforcement action.

"We want to assure the community that we are doing everything in our power to respond to this. We will also be working with those on the site, local parish councils, and the local community, to offer support.”

A spokesman for the South Down National Park Authority said: “We are appalled at the unauthorised works taking place on this site in the National Park, which has been designated on behalf of the entire nation for its natural beauty, biodiversity and heritage.

“We acted urgently and multiple visits have been made by officers last week and over the Bank Holiday weekend to monitor the situation and take the action we can through the planning system.

“Chichester District Council are acting on behalf of the South Downs National Park Authority and relevant enforcement proceedings have started.

"Both authorities are working in partnership to consider and prepare for the next steps which include court action.

"We take breaches of planning and unauthorised development very seriously and will continue to work together to resolve the situation.”

A spokesperson for Sussex Police added: “Police are aware of concerns about development of a site in Blind Lane, Petworth.

“This is a civil matter and we are liaising with the relevant local authorities and South Downs National Park Authority as lead agencies.”