A High Court judge has granted a temporary injunction to halt further development at a traveller site in Medstead.

The order, granted on June 5, prevents further work being carried out and additional caravans being brought in at the Abbey Road field while East Hampshire District Council seeks a permanent injunction. The judge did not order the travellers already there to leave.

The council said a full High Court hearing would take place at the end of June to decide whether the order should be made permanent.

Cllr Angela Glass, East Hampshire District Council’s portfolio holder for enforcement and regulation, said: “This was a clear case of unauthorised development and we have acted quickly and to the full extent of our powers to stop the work and prevent further damage to the site.

“We have already issued a Temporary Stop Notice and now have served a High Court injunction. This means that no more work can be carried out on site and that no more people can move on to it.”

But Cllr Glass bemoaned how difficult it was for the council to respond legally to a problem which took hold in minutes rather than weeks.

She said: “We understand that local residents want instant results when faced with a situation like this and we have acted swiftly within the limitations of the law.

“The court order does not mean that the current occupants can be forced off the land, or that the land must be returned to its former condition.

“We will be sure to keep residents updated while we work through these legal processes. What we really need is legislative support from government to enable us to be more proactive when speed is of the essence.”

Reform UK East Hampshire chairman Cllr Matthew Kellermann said the legal process should now be allowed to take its course.

He said: "Equal application of existing laws is essential. Traveller communities should be treated no differently to anyone else, being subject to the same regulations and afforded the same largesse."

The legal action follows the arrival of travellers at the field on May 22, just before the late May bank holiday weekend. Caravans moved in, hardstanding was created and septic tanks were installed.

Cllr Roland Richardson, who represents Four Marks and Medstead on East Hampshire District Council, said: "East Hampshire District Council have been busy with the unauthorised development in Medstead since it started.

"Council officers attended the site after receiving reports of the caravans arriving over the bank holiday weekend. I believe it is now a legal matter over which I have no control."

Meanwhile, a planning application has been submitted for the field, known as Land North Of Lower Park Farm. It seeks retrospective permission for six gypsy and traveller pitches, hardstanding and six day rooms.

The application, reference EHDC-26-0488-FUL, can be viewed on the East Hampshire District Council website. The deadline for comments is June 23.

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

Cllr Glass added: “We must also consider a planning application that has been submitted on the site, and we must do that fairly and without prejudice.”