Travellers camped next to our homes... the smell has been miserable

by · Mail Online

Travellers who illegally set up camp next to family homes have finally been given the boot - but only after distressed neighbours endured years of 'misery', 'noise' and 'stench' at their hands.

Shocking aerial photos show the state the land has been left in following an expensive legal battle by the council to win back the plot which lies in the picturesque Kent village of Vigo, near Gravesend.

Since April 2020, Gravesham council has been taking legal action against the development and its landowner but neighbours say the time they've spent is a 'disgrace' and the authority should be 'thoroughly ashamed'.

Owner, Gareth Sullivan, was jailed in October 2021 by the High Court after he accepted he was in breach of an injunction secured by the council preventing development at Fowlers Stone Wood.

Sullivan has since left the site and the removal of all vehicles, mobile homes, caravans, plant, machinery and waste has been given the green light.

The illegal camp set up in woodlands in the village of Vigo near Gravesend, in Kent
Locals have said the smell of burning and noise from the camp (pictured)  has made them miserable
Pictured: Council enforcement officers at the entrance to the illegal camp in Vigo, Kent
An aerial shot of the camp reveals three buildings have been set up in a woodland clearing 

The land was finally seized on Monday. 

It is expected to take a number of weeks for works to be completed and entrances to Fowlers Stone Wood, previously described as an 'irreplaceable' woodland site, will be secured once contractors have left.

Photos show rubbish sprawled across the ground, including gates, junk, fences and abandoned vehicles. 

Neighbours described 'years of misery' having to live next to the mess.

One said: 'It's been sheer hell.

'He just came in one day and did exactly what he wanted. It was disgraceful. He acted with total impunity.

'It was a scandal how somebody could just move into land and do whatever they want.

'It's a disgrace that it has taken this long. The council should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

'It has been miserable living here. Waste was burnt there at all hours, including on lovely summer afternoons.

'We would be sat in our gardens relaxing and we would get this vile stench coming from there. We'd have to go inside and shut our windows.

Landowner Gareth Sullivan has since left the site (pictured) and removal of all vehicles, mobile homes, caravans, plant, machinery and waste can go ahead
It is expected to take a number of weeks for works to be completed on the site (pictured) and entrances to Fowlers Stone Wood will be cleared once contractors have left
Neighbours described 'years of misery' having to live next to the illegal occupation (pictured, in the distance) near Gravesend

'The noise was intolerable. There was cars coming at all hours and machinery work in the middle of the night. I have no idea what was going on there.

'There was god knows how much waste. It was just a dumping ground.

'It could have been such a lovely location.'

The man, aged in his 50s, said he was finally pleased action was being taken.

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He added: 'It staggers me how it took this long.

'But thank God it is over. The council does not deserve a lot of credit.

'What sort of message does this send to anyone else?

'But finally we have some peace.'

One woman, who said she was worried about being identified, was visibly shaken and upset when talking about the experience of living next to the site.

She said: 'It's made me very upset. It's been the worst period of my life.

'The constant noise all night meant I have not been able to sleep. We have asked the council so many times.

'Finally I might be getting my life back. It's been devastating.'

Another added: 'It's been horrific.'

Cllr John Burden, leader of Gravesham council, said: 'I know this case has been frustrating for local people.

'It has served to illustrate the very real legal constraints local councils face when it comes to tackling the illegal occupation and development of land like this.'

A neighbour reports cars coming at all hours and machinery work in the middle of the night due to the camp (pictured, signs have been put up near the entrance)
The council leader said while it may have appeared that at times no action was being taken, the council had been following complex legal proceedings (pictured, the site in the distance)

He added that while it may have appeared that at times no action was being taken, the council had been following complex legal proceedings.

The Labour leader said: 'We had to ensure every step of those proceedings was completed carefully and lawfully or risk being successfully challenged, setting the whole process back many months.

'The level of evidence required for our successful applications to the High Court, firstly for an injunction and then to have Sullivan held in contempt for breaching that injunction, was exceptional, and I can only praise our enforcement and legal teams for their diligence in that work.

'I would also like to thank local residents and local councillors in the area for their patience and persistence in supporting us to get this matter resolved.

'Despite taking action that saw the offender jailed, it has still proved time-consuming and challenging to get to where we are today, to gain access to the site and to begin the work to clear it.

'Sullivan's actions and our efforts to bring him to account for them and rectify the damage he has done have resulted in a great deal of expense and we will be making full use of all the avenues open to us to recover those costs.'