Somerset Council has obtained a High Court injunction aimed at preventing additional occupants from settling on the Greenacres travellers’ site located on Oxen Lane in North Curry, near Taunton. Currently, over a dozen individuals reside at the site, which has been subject to ongoing legal disputes for more than twenty years, including a previous indefinite injunction issued in 2009.
The recent interim injunction, granted following a High Court hearing on July 21, restricts any further residential occupation and unauthorised works on the land by anyone other than those named in the legal action. However, it does not mandate the immediate eviction of current occupants. The council awaits a future hearing to request a permanent injunction and potentially enforce eviction.
At a recent meeting of the council’s planning committee, a spokesperson confirmed the interim order is designed to maintain the status quo while court proceedings continue. The timing of the permanent injunction hearing remains uncertain as it depends on court scheduling.
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One of the defendants, Peter Richards, submitted a retrospective planning application in late May seeking permission for 16 pitches to accommodate touring caravans and static homes, alongside essential infrastructure upgrades such as a sewage treatment plant and improved site access. His representative, Stuart H. Carruthers, emphasized the site’s readiness with water, electricity, and sewage facilities and highlighted the proposal’s potential to address an urgent accommodation need in the district.
The planning application is still under review by council officers and the planning committee. The council expressed its commitment to managing the issue lawfully and transparently, ensuring communication with both residents and site occupiers. Enforcement officers will continue to monitor compliance, though the council refrained from commenting further due to ongoing legal proceedings.