Travellers Invade Kent Village, Spark Chaos

0:00On April 7th, travelers rolled into the upscale village of Sundridge and Kent's stockbroker belt where homes fetched over 2 million pounds each. Without notice, they hit a field near Seven Oves under cover of night, bringing diggers and up to 30 lorries loaded with rubble. Over the Easter Bank holiday weekend, they flattened the Green Belt land into hard-standing for static homes. Their operation hit a snag Sunday when a three-bedroom static home on a lorry got wedged in a narrow lane. To free it, they ripped up hedges and trees along the roadside. Meanwhile, locals tried blocking the vehicles, turning the scene chaotic. Villages were furious, calling it a military-style invasion on protected land without permits. One resident got arrested that morning around 8 a.m. for obstructing police, though he was later released. The parish council warned folks to stay away to avoid more clashes. Kim police cleared the road by 4.30 p.m. Sunday, issuing a couple traffic reports. Seven Oves District Council held off action until Tuesday due to the holiday, drawing heat from locals.

1:03MP, Laura Trott slammed the delay and pushed for tougher laws to block retrospective planning bids on these illegal setups. The field's fresh-off auction, highlighting how easy it is to exploit holiday gaps before enforcement kicks in.