Travellers vow not to remove illegally-parked caravans as neighbours vent they ‘do what they want’
A family of travellers in Norfolk have vowed to resist any attempts to remove their caravans from land behind houses – despite having been served an enforcement notice by the local council.
Rhys Clapham, his partner and three children are refusing to leave the site off Festival Road in Billingford, where they moved after purchasing the land at auction earlier this year.
Breckland Council has ordered the removal of the caravans following dozens of objections from local residents and a rejected planning application.
The family had sought permission for two residential static caravans and two touring caravans but were refused, leading to an ongoing dispute with planning authorities.
Clapham purchased the one-acre plot for £60,000 at auction after Breckland Council decided to sell the former allotment site.
He has since invested £40,000 in developing the land, including the installation of sewage works and laying hardcore for access.
The family moved their static caravan onto the site in October after gaining permission from a neighbouring farmer to cross their field.
The land had previously served as community allotments and an informal play area for local children.
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Clapham’s planning agent, Stuart Caruthers, believes permission will eventually be granted, calling it a “typical gypsy planning application” amid what he calls a housing crisis in the district.
The family previously lived on a traveller site in Stanfield, also in Norfolk, for nine years before relocating to Billingford.
Local residents have expressed strong opposition to the traveller site, with dozens lodging formal objections.
Tim Pope, 62, a retired car dealer who lives on Festival Road, said: “The council refused them permission down there and they just carry on. If I did that they’d be down on me in a flash.”
His wife Dawn, 60, added: “That used to be council allotments for the village and the kids used to play there.”
Some locals have described the development as a “callous proposal” that would “completely ruin” their small community.
Concerns raised include issues with parking in the narrow cul-de-sac, noise from barking dogs, and potential light pollution affecting neighbouring properties.
The parish council clerk questioned the family’s claims of potential homelessness pointing to how they were able to purchase the land and pay planning costs.
And Clapham has hit back at critics, telling MailOnline: “With travellers, you get so much stigma your whole life. For a long time, my family has not mentioned being travellers because of the attention and stigma.”
He claims to have faced hostility from some neighbours, saying people are “literally yelling at us” and that his property has been vandalised.
“I would be a good neighbour. I’m not interested in causing any trouble,” he insisted.
The dispute will come to a head at a Planning Inspectorate hearing on January 14, where the Claphams’ appeal against Breckland Council will be decided.
And the father-of-three remains defiant, vowing authorities will “have to drag me off the site” to make him leave.