Occupiers of the land built new roads and put up fences overnight.
A spokesperson for Newark and Sherwood District Council said:
‘On Good Friday, 18 April 2025, we were made aware of an unlawful development in Weston, located between Tuxford and Sutton-on-Trent along the side of the A1. Within 24 hours, working overnight, occupiers of this site had built tarmacadam roads, removed hedges, created entrances, put up fences and positioned plots, known as pitches. As of this morning, Thursday 24 April 2025, there were approximately 40 pitches on site.
‘On Thursday 24 April 2025, we served an enforcement notice on the landowners and occupiers. This means that the occupiers must “Cease the use of the land as a caravan site and remove all caravans and mobile homes from the land.”
‘The notice takes effect 28 days after it has been served (the minimum period legally required), which means that those occupiers on the site are required to vacate it by 30 May 2025 under the terms of the enforcement notice, subject to any appeal against the notice.
‘The enforcement notice also requires that the land must be returned to the state it was prior to the occupiers arriving and, the development which has taken place within three months.
‘There is a right of appeal against an enforcement notice and if an appeal is made then this suspends the effect of the notice until the process is concluded. If this right is exercised a decision on whether to uphold or quash the notice will be made by the Planning Inspectorate, an independent appeal body who act on behalf of Central Government.
‘We understand residents’ frustration and concerns over this unlawful development. We are working as diligently and as quickly as possible to ensure we are doing all we can to address the situation.’
