Actor Martin Clunes, known for his role in Doc Martin, maintains that his neighbors, who are perceived as hippies, are not travelers, amidst a heated planning dispute near his countryside residence.
Pissed-off Farmer Sues Hippie Neighbors Over Plot on His Doorstep
In yet another twist in a protracted dispute, Martin Clunes, renowned for his roles in 'Doc Martin' and 'Men Behaving Badly', has escalated his battle against his dug-in, funky neighbors, Theo Langton and Ruth McGill. The bone of contention? A 300-yard stretch of land close to Clunes' £5 million farmhouse in Beaminster, Dorset.
For over two decades, Langton and McGill have made their home on a 45ft by 16ft mobile residence on a temporary license near the picturesque town. They've applied for planning permission to keep using the plot as a private residential site for themselves and family, but Clunes isn't having it.
Clunes has called their claim to be travellers based on their lifestyle and festival attendance "cynical" and "dishonest." The couple's plans include an erected barn for a dayroom, workshop, and storage, a mobile home, a touring caravan, and a mobile van.
Last month, a council meeting to decide on their application was postponed due to flooding concerns. The delay has provided Clunes with an opportunity to raise fresh concerns on the council's planning portal.
In his submission, Clunes questions their legitimacy as travelers. He argues that their attendance at festivals, while fashionable and bohemian, doesn't make them nomads by law. According to Clunes, many people, like stallholders and roadies, travel to festivals each summer without being considered travelers by the law.
Clunes further argues that granting the application would pave the way for the growth of a New Age Traveller commune, a precedent him and the council must avoid. He insists that the applicants must actively seek an alternative site, starting immediately, if the application is to be approved.
Planning officials at Dorset Council had previously recommended the proposal's approval but pulled it from the agenda at the last minute due to concerns about surface water flooding. The application will be considered as soon as those issues are addressed.
In a statement, Dorset Council explained the delay, stating, "A matter has come to the attention of officers since the publication of the agenda which will require further consideration. The matter relates to surface water flooding and will need to be considered before the application can be reported to committee. The application will be reported back to committee as soon as possible."
The legal battle between Clunes and the Langtons has raged on for over two years, with the application being pulled from council meetings on multiple occasions. Despite the ongoing dispute, Langton and McGill have raised two children on their woodland site and are reportedly well-liked by the local community.
By the Way
New Age Traveller sites, like other types of traveler sites, are subject to specific legal requirements in the UK: 1. Buying suitable land in low-flood risk areas (Flood Zone 1) 2. Applying for planning permission from the local planning authority 3. Establishing local connections, such as living in the area or having family ties, can strengthen the application 4. If the application is rejected, there's an option to appeal with legal representation
Celebrities, such as Martin Clunes, may face challenges in preventing the establishment of traveler sites near their properties due to: 1. Legal protections for traveler communities 2. The planning process, which ensures alignment with local development needs and policies 3. Avoiding discriminatory actions while expressing community concerns
- Martin Clunes has questioned the legitimacy of his neighbors' traveler status, arguing that attending festivals does not make them nomads by law.
- Clunes has raised concerns about the potential growth of a New Age Traveller commune if his neighbors' application is approved.
- In the UK, New Age Traveler sites, like other types of traveler sites, are subject to specific legal requirements, including buying suitable land in low-flood risk areas, applying for planning permission, and establishing local connections.
- Despite the ongoing legal battle, Theo Langton and Ruth McGill, the neighbors in question, have raised two children on their woodland site and are reportedly well-liked by the local community.
- Celebrities, such as Martin Clunes, may face challenges in preventing the establishment of traveler sites near their properties due to legal protections for traveler communities, the planning process, and the need to avoid discriminatory actions while expressing community concerns.
