A temporary injunction has been granted by the High Court to prevent travellers carrying out more work and bringing in more caravans on a site in Medstead.

The hearing took place on June 5, and a full hearing will be convened at the High Court at a later date to consider granting a final injunction to East Hampshire District Council for the site at the junction of Abbey Road and Wivelrod Road.

A council spokesperson said: “East Hampshire District Council is committed to protecting our countryside and communities from unauthorised development and will take robust action to do so where it is necessary.”

Travellers have put in a retrospective planning application to develop the field.

They moved on to the site at 5pm on May 22, just as East Hampshire District Council, Hampshire County Council and the courts closed for the late May bank holiday weekend.

Medstead Parish Council called this “a deliberate tactic” to give them time to start ground works and move static caravans and equipment on to the site. It urged residents to “prioritise your own safety” and not try to intervene by entering the field.

Councillors have been working to help stop the travellers since the incident began, including district councillors Neal Day and Tony Costigan, county council leader Nick Adams-King and Alton Rural county councillor Antonia Cox.

She said: “I believe the law, including planning law, should apply equally to everybody, and that’s why it’s so important that East Hampshire District Council, as the planning enforcement body, takes action here.”

Two residents contacted the Herald to complain about the travellers soon after they arrived.

One said: “This has all the hallmarks of an intentional unauthorised development by the gypsy and traveller community, following the pattern of similar activities in Surrey and other locations.

“Works began in the field late on Friday afternoon after the East Hampshire District Council offices would have closed, so preventing any immediate actions to stop the work, with the arrival of plant and machinery, lorry loads of hardcore and a number of caravans. Works have continued over the weekend, with a number of static homes delivered to the site.”

The other added: “A plan for six to eight pitches on this site was turned down, and turned down again on appeal.

“The land has been flattened over the bank holiday weekend, with hardcore, septic tanks and static caravans arriving. It’s a bit tense here at the moment.”

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

Anyone with information should call Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary on 101, quoting reference 44260241386, or report it online at www.hampshire.police.uk