For 2 years Martin Clunes has been at warfare along with his neighbours over plans for a everlasting traveller web site subsequent to his £5million farmhouse.
However the actor has been dealt a recent blow within the planning battle, as his native city council has authorised the positioning regardless of his protests.
Inside 24 hours of Beaminster City Council approving the plans earlier this month, Clunes drafted in a prime barrister in a last-ditch try to cease the proposals which has prompted warfare along with his neighbours who’ve criticised the Doc Martin star’s heavy-handed ways.
They’ve additionally accused the TV star of putting in a swimming pool on his property with out planning permission.
Self-proclaimed ‘new age travellers’ Theo Langton and his associate Ruth McGill have lived in a 45ft by 16ft static caravan with out working water or electrical energy for greater than 20 years.
Actor Martin Clunes has been dealt a recent blow in his battle to cease a traveller web site subsequent to his Dorset farmhouse after his native city council authorised the plans regardless of his objection
Self-proclaimed ‘new age travellers’ Theo Langton and his associate Ruth McGill have lived in a 45ft by 16ft static caravan with out working water or electrical energy for greater than 20 years
Their plot is simply 300 yards from Clunes’s 130-acre Dorset farm in an Space of Excellent Pure Magnificence.
In 2022, the couple utilized for everlasting use of the land as ‘a non-public residential traveller web site’, however Clunes has repeatedly objected to the plans.
Mr Langton and Ms McGill wish to make their dwelling authorized, together with a touring caravan already on web site, and permit an extra two cell dwellings for guests to remain in.
In a memo of recommendation by John Metal KC, performing for Clunes, 62, and Philippa Braithwaite, 60, his TV producer spouse, Mr Metal disputes the couple’s declare to be travellers, which might put them in a robust place with the council who’re obligated to offer websites for them.
Mr Langton and Ms McGill cite their travels round ten festivals and festivals within the UK to promote jewelry and crafts as proof that they’re ‘new age travellers’.
However Mr Metal KC argues there isn’t a ‘proof of a nomadic behavior of life’. He in contrast the couple to ‘roadies, caterers, individuals who promote items on stands at occasions together with craftsmen and artists’.
In his scathing report, Clunes’s lawyer argues that the couple has made ‘no effort in any way… to seek out different lodging over numerous years’.
He added: ‘Theo Langton has acquired prime quality non-public training together with to secondary faculty stage at Bryanston College and it’s not as if he’s incapable of spending effort and time to hunt another, extra acceptable web site.’ He additionally states that Mr Langton is ‘not with out substantial sources’, citing plots in his title with the Land Registry value a whole lot of hundreds of kilos.
Native resident and former Dorset councillor Ros Kayes described the battle as ‘actual David and Goliath’. ‘It’s probably the most terrible behaviour from individuals who’ve acquired cash and really feel entitled,’ he mentioned.
He added that Mr Langton was ‘a very upstanding one who contributes to the group’ and suggested the council on local weather change points. He mentioned: ‘It’s very tough for a council – when anyone is ready to spend some huge cash – clearly the council has to guard its funds.
‘It’s actually ridiculous… It appears to be a prejudice that Martin Clunes has in opposition to a sure way of life. That’s the one factor that I can consider – he doesn’t need anyone whose way of life he disapproves of.
Mr Clunes at his farm close to Beaminster, Dorset. The actor has repeatedly protested in opposition to the proposals for a everlasting travellers web site subsequent door, and has employed a prime barrister in a last-ditch try to cease the buildings going forward
A Google avenue view of buildings on the plot owned by Mr Langton and Mrs McGill
‘I feel this opposition has modified individuals’s views of Martin Clunes. I feel he was seen as a well-liked man, however I feel now individuals have revised their opinions as a result of they suppose it’s petty and heavy-handed.’
One other native has lodged a criticism to the council in opposition to Clunes, who they declare has constructed a swimming pool on his farm with out planning permission.
However buddies of the actor mentioned that he was capable of create a swimming pool underneath permitted improvement laws, and didn’t want to hunt planning permission.
Clunes purchased Increased Meerhay farm close to Beaminster for £3million from Mr Langton’s mom, the backyard designer Georgia Langton, 80, in 2007.
Mr Langton purchased his plot from his mom in 2019 for £128,315, after residing on the land since 2002.
In 2015, the council handed the couple a five-year short-term licence to reside on the positioning, they usually have lived there illegally ever since its expiry.
Dorset County Council is about to contemplate Mr Langton’s planning software subsequent month. Clunes didn’t reply to requests for remark final evening.
