Illegally occupied site cleared after four years

The site consisted of a makeshift camp, a caravan and other temporary buildings

A site which was illegally occupied for more than four years has been cleared.

Wiltshire Council said problems began at the location near The Brambles in Salisbury in 2019. The occupier was also "causing significant issues for the local community through anti-social behaviour".

The site consisted of a makeshift camp, a caravan and other temporary buildings. Council officials prosecuted the occupier twice after they failed to leave.

A council spokesperson said the case was a "complicated and drawn-out process".

The occupier was fined £6,470 with a collection order in 2022, after failing to comply with the enforcement notice.

In October 2023, they were fined again, with an order to pay £5,000 within three years.

Wiltshire Council cleared the site in July

Council officers attended and cleared the site in July.

Councillor Nick Botterill praised the "tenacity" of enforcement officers who worked closely with local residents, farmers, councillors, the police and the nearby school to secure the site.

"We will not tolerate unauthorised developments in Wiltshire, and as this case shows, we will take action and work to resolve these issues for as long as it takes.

"In this case, the person involved was causing significant issues for the local community through anti-social behaviour, and so I'm very pleased that we could resolve this for local people," he added.