Actor Martin Clunes has maintained that his 'hippie' neighbors are not travelers, as part of the ongoing bitter dispute over planning issues centered on some land merely 300 yards away from the £5 million farmhouse he shares with his wife, Philippa Braithwaite.
The actor known for roles in "Doc Martin" and "Men Behaving Badly" has been engaged in an ongoing struggle to prevent New Age Travellers Theo Langton and Ruth McGill from converting their woodland property and caravan into an officially recognized travelers' site.
The couple have lived in the 45ft by 16ft mobile home on a temporarily rolling licence near Beaminster, Dorset, for more than 20 years.
They have applied for planning permission for continued use of land as a private residential traveller site for 'sole use of the applicants and family.'
But Clunes has hit out at the pair for claiming they are travellers based on 'the way they dress' and 'going to certain types of music festivals.'
The couple's plans include use of the erected barn as a dayroom, workshop and store, one mobile home, a touring caravan and a mobile van.
Clunes argued that the present dwelling did not fit the criteria for a mobile home, and he characterized his neighbor’s effort to categorize it as such as both 'cynical' and 'deceptive.'
The determination of the application, which was scheduled to take place at the council meeting last month, has been delayed following concerns over potential flooding.
New submissions have recently appeared on the council's planning website from Clunes, who challenges their validity concerning travelers.
Previously, the couple depended on proof indicating they traveled to numerous festivals during the summer season to support themselves financially.
Clunes stated: 'They cannot assert that they are travelers based on how they present themselves, whether through their attire, residing at sites lacking essential facilities, associating with particular groups, or attending specific kinds of musical gatherings.'
'It cannot be concluded that the applicants are persons of nomadic habit of life due to them visiting music and other festivals each year to sell items and help set them up.'
Clunes added: 'The decision must rest on planning law and policy - not emotion or popularity of an applicant.
'The applicants are locally well-liked and they and their site may give the appearance of a New Age lifestyle, but that does not entitle them to special treatment as they do not meet the legal definition of a gypsy or traveller.
'The applicants travel to festivals as do many other people. They have a stall at festivals and sell items made by them. No evidence more than this is submitted for it to be able to be concluded that it supports their livelihood.
Many vendors move from one festival to another, with roadies handling the setup of stages and equipment. These groups traverse through summers hopping from one event to the next, whether it’s a festival or fair.
They are not considered travelers, whether New Age or of another classification. Each summer, these applicants journey to Portugal and Spain via roads, just like numerous other individuals who aren’t classified as Travelers.
It would not be accurate to conclude that the applicants lead a nomadic lifestyle simply because they visit music and other festivals annually to vend items and assist with setup.
This would imply that numerous, if not all, vendors at these festivals along with the crew members traveling with the organizers, sellers, and musicians would be categorized as gypsies and travelers under the planning definition, which undoubtedly does not reflect reality.
Clunes added that from his view there were now only two ways forward - to refuse permission and consider enforcement, allowing time to relocate, or to grant a temporary permission.
He contended that this should solely occur if it was explicitly stated that "applicants must proactively look for an alternate location, beginning immediately."
He added: 'The onus is on the applicants to comply with policy - not the council to make exceptions.'
In his submission, Clunes added: 'There is evidence not only of a precedent being set but the beginnings of a New Age Traveller commune growing up on and around the application site.
The friends of the applicants have purchased the land across from Meerhay Manor and have submitted applications for planning permission to cultivate vegetables using big polytunnels. Additionally, they have requested approval to reside on-site in a shepherd’s cottage.
There is no question that once permanent planning approval is granted, other parties will follow the applicants' strategy to secure planning permissions, making it challenging for the Council to reject them.
None of the conclusions reached by the officers carry enough weight to overcome the recognized harms or withstand examination. Additionally, the evaluation of the damage caused by the suggested development has been insufficiently addressed and significantly underestimated.
The planning officials at Dorset Council initially suggested approving the proposal. However, the item was removed from the agenda last month following a late communication from Clunes' legal team.
A two-year legal struggle followed, during which the application was once more removed from the agenda at last month’s meeting after being suggested for approval again.
The Dorset Council commented on the postponement stating: "This is due to an issue that has recently been brought to the attention of the officials after the agenda was published, necessitating additional deliberation."
The issue pertains to surface water flooding and must be addressed prior to the application being presented to the committee.
The application will be sent back to the committee for review at the earliest opportunity.
In his report destined for the committee, planning officer Bob Burden stated: "The site is deemed fairly sustainable, and the proposition is satisfactory concerning both its design and overall aesthetic effect."
'There is not considered to be any significant harm to neighbouring residential amenity.
'There are no material considerations which would warrant refusal of this application.'
The Clunes' bought 130-acre Meerhay Farm near Beaminster, Dorset, from Mr Langton's mother, the landscape gardener Georgia Langton, in 2007.
The property central to the controversy is approximately 300 yards away from the £5 million farmstead where Clunes resides with his spouse, Philippa Braithwaite.
Read more