Travellers sneak into millionaires' stockbroker belt village under cover of darkness before paving over a field in 'military-style operation'

Published: 00:49, 7 April 2026 | Updated: 00:50, 7 April 2026 Millionaire residents in a desirable Kent village are calling for the police to step in after travellers arrived, paved over a field and ripped up hedges when a static home got wedged in a lane. Without warning, a group of travellers descended on the quiet village of Sundridge in Kent’s stockbroker belt, where properties regularly command prices in excess of £2million. Under the cover of darkness they brought in diggers and machinery into the field near Sevenoaks. Over the course of the weekend - while the local council offices remained closed for the Easter bank holiday - building work started. Up to 30 lorries arrived at the site and dumped rubble on the field before workers flattened it to make hard standing. On Sunday, traveller families, including one with young children, started to move onto the site. However their plans to occupy the site stalled when a large three-bedroom static home loaded onto a lorry became wedged in the narrow lane causing an obstruction. The travellers began ripping up hedges and undergrowth on the side of the road in a bid to make a passage for the lorry. Plans by travellers to move into a desirable Kent village were stalled when a large three-bedroom static home loaded onto a lorry became wedged in the narrow lane causing an obstruction Angry villagers called the police and went out onto the road in an attempt to block the vehicles getting access to the field - leading to one arrest on Sunday morning. A villager, who lives close to the field, said: ‘They’ve torn down trees and lots of hedging which doesn’t belong to them to try and get their vehicles onto this site which just illustrates how totally unsuitable it is for them. ‘One man who tried to stop them was arrested but we’re all absolutely livid. This is green belt land. You can’t do anything without planning approval but this group of people have just put two fingers up and carried on regardless.’ Councillor Nigel Williams, of Sevenoaks District Council and Kent County Council, said: ‘I’m absolutely furious about this because the law is totally hopeless when it comes to situations like this. ‘It was a military-style operation. They swept in on Friday morning pulled down trees and ripped up hedge and then lorry after lorry arrived with hardcore and they created hard standing for vehicles and homes. ‘Then they came with a static home which blocked the road and used cars to prevent villagers getting out. It’s been horrendous.’ Fears over a further confrontation over the illegal development has led parish council bosses to warn residents against approaching the site. Laura Trott, MP for Sevenoaks and shadow education secretary, has called for a change in the law to stop traveller community carrying out such actions. Up to 30 lorries arrived at the site and dumped rubble on the field before workers flattened it to make hard standing Posting on Facebook she said: ‘I’m very sorry to report that, once again over a Bank Holiday weekend, an unauthorised development has been deliberately started. ‘As soon as I was notified I contacted the district council to report the incident and ask for all possible action to be taken. The police have also been made aware. ‘This situation underlines again why we must see a change in the law. Flagrant breaches such as this should never be able to apply for retrospective planning consent. She also condemned the Sevenoaks District Council for failing to take immediate action. Ms Trott said: ‘I am incredibly disappointed and deeply frustrated to learn from the council that no action will be taken until Tuesday. Illegal developments must be shut down immediately, whether they occur over a bank holiday weekend or not. To help do this the law must catch up.’ It is understood the field at the junction of Penn Lane and Church Road was recently sold at auction. Karl Brooks said: ‘Any one can buy the land, use the Easter holiday, get the digger in, clear the ground, put in the hardcore, bring the caravans in by Monday. ‘The enforcement team finished Thursday night so do what you want for four days.’ One local man was arrested on Sunday morning for obstructing a police officer, but was later released A spokesperson for Sundridge with Ide Hill Parish Council, one of the oldest in Britain, said: ‘Members of the Parish Council are extremely disappointed that no further action will be taken before Tuesday April 7 due to the Easter bank holiday period, and we fully recognise and share the concerns being expressed by residents.’ A spokesperson for Kent Police said officers were called to Sundridge shortly after 8am on Sunday after reports that the road was blocked by vehicles and a disturbance had broken out. She said: ‘Officers attended to assist. Two traffic offence reports were issued and a man in his 40s was arrested for obstructing a police officer. He was later released while enquiries to establish the full circumstances are ongoing. The road was cleared at around 4.30pm.’ No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. 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