A three-day High Court hearing has been scheduled to decide the future of the Greenacres travellers' site in North Curry, Somerset. Located on Oxen Lane near Taunton, the site has faced numerous legal challenges over the past two decades, including a High Court injunction dating back to 2009.
In October 2024, “unauthorised work” began at the Greenacres site, prompting Somerset Council to secure a temporary injunction in July 2025 to halt any further occupation. One of the individuals named in the injunction, Peter Richards, applied in May 2025 for retrospective planning permission to develop 16 pitches for touring caravans and static homes, including sewage treatment facilities and improved site access. However, the council refused this application in November 2025, a decision later upheld by the Planning Inspectorate after a public inquiry in June 2026.
Now, Somerset Council is seeking a permanent injunction that would require all remaining occupants to vacate the site and restore the land to its original condition. North Curry Parish Council confirmed that the hearing will begin on July 21, 2026, with a three-day session anticipated. A permanent injunction could be in place by the end of the summer.
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The parish council stated: “Following the dismissal of the appeal, the council is pursuing a final injunction which will specify a compliance date. Non-compliance will result in enforcement action, representing the quickest path to compliance.” It also confirmed that no new planning applications for this site would be accepted.
Despite a February assessment by the council highlighting a need for 261 additional travellers' pitches across Somerset by 2045 to address a significant unmet demand, only three of the 16 pitches at Greenacres currently appear occupied. This low occupancy is attributed to the existing injunction and inadequate water supply on parts of the site.
The parish council noted a recent breach of the interim injunction with the provision of a toilet facility on pitch one but emphasized that the final injunction remains the fastest route to resolving the situation. Somerset Council continues to focus on achieving full compliance through legal channels.