Travellers ordered to stop digging up land in High Court order

A council has won a High Court injunction against travellers digging up tons of Earth in Welsh Valleys after locals voiced their fears it could cause a landslip.

Over 600 locals living in Nantyglo, Gwent, have signed a petition against the excavation work which began last month.

The land was recently bought by a traveller group – but no planning permission has been sought for any work on the site. Despite this, the land which was formerly a hill, has been dug up allegedly without any safety precautions in place.

The area’s local authority- Blaenau Gwent council –  served a stop notice on the work meaning it had to halt for 28 days – and has now secured an interim High Court injunction to stop further excavation amid fears from people living nearby that there could be a landslip.

This also means nobody except the landowners are allowed to stay overnight on the site.

Yvonne Bell (left) who launched a petition which has been signed by over 600 locals against the excavation work which began last month

The land in Nantyglo, Gwent, was recently bought by a traveller group – but no planning permission has been sought for any work on the site. Despite this, the land which was formerly a hill has dug up allegedly without any safety precautions in place

The area’s local authority- Blaenau Gwent council – served a stop notice on the work meaning it had to halt for 28 days – and has now secured an interim High Court injunction to stop further excavation amid fears from people living nearby that there could be a landslip

The order will remain in place until a court hearing in June.

Residents are fearful that the large-scale excavation could have devastating consequences – with the town just 16 miles away from Aberfan where the fatal Aberfan disaster occured.

The Aberfan disaster occured in 1966 when spoil tips above Aberfan collapsed due to heavy rainfall causing a landslide which killed 144 people, including 116 children.

READ MORE: Welsh villagers fear travellers could spark new Aberfan disaster as they dig up tons of earth in Valleys as 800 sign petition demanding they be kicked out  

Grandmother Mrs Bell, a retired care worker, said: ‘There is a row of pensioners’ homes below the land they’re dug up and we are above it.

‘The council is saying they are concerned about the stability of the land – how are we expected to sleep at night?

‘Everyone is saying there could be another Aberfan disaster, what a horrible thought.’

Yvonne Bell, 55, who launched the petition, said: ‘I informed the council this was happening last week and that I was worried it would happen during the Easter weekend while the offices were closed.

‘We’ve been in touch with a number of different departments and people because we genuinely believe this work has begun without proper planning permission.

‘We know this because we’ve been told it’s not safe by the council.

‘Some of the more elderly residents around here are terrified of what’s happening – they don’t feel able to even open their curtains at the moment.

‘That’s just not fair on any of us – we refuse to live in fear.’

Another woman, named only as Anna, said she had been threatened over her views regarding the work.

Ms Bell said: ‘We’ve been in touch with a number of different departments and people because we genuinely believe this work has begun without proper planning permission. ‘We know this because we’ve been told it’s not safe by the council’

Residents are fearful that the large-scale excavation could have devastating consequences – with the town just 16 miles away from Aberfan where the fatal Aberfan disaster occured

The Queen and Prince Philip visiting Aberfan days after the disaster claimed the lives of 144 people, including 116 children

She said: ‘There have been no safety measures and a lot of ground has been taken away, which supports the very busy road above.

‘It’s a very scary time for the residents and there have been comments circulating on social media about hoping the houses have good insurance’

Land registry documents show there is covenant on the land which states the land can only be used for grazing.

A fundraising page purporting to be from one traveller said the work was being done as the ‘council is not providing us with the right needs’ adding ‘we are doing our own property up which we are entitled to do.’

A spokesperson for Blaenau Gwent council previously said: ‘We can confirm that we have been made aware of land development on a site in Nantyglo.

‘We are looking into this and all associated issues as a priority in order to determine an appropriate course of action.’

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