The owners of farmland who are accused of illegally bringing a static caravan onto their field have been ordered to stop after even more work was started.

People reported seeing diggers on the site in White Post Lane in Sole Street near Gravesend last week despite an undecided planning application and High Court injunction.

In December, a mobile home was brought onto the land before permission was granted causing damage to trees and hedgerows as it was driven along the country lane.

At the time, Gravesham council’s enforcement team confirmed it was investigating the incident as the move breached a High Court injunction.

The order prevents anyone from using the land for the siting of caravans or mobile homes.

Since then, an enforcement notice - which was issued by the local authority in August 2023 and appealed by the land owner - has been upheld by the government’s Planning Inspectorate.

The decision, published on February 11, gives the owners and occupiers of the land 12 months to comply with the requirements of the council.

This includes removing unauthorised mobile homes, touring caravans, vehicles, buildings, lighting, CCTV and associated hardstanding and paraphernalia.

It also requires the brick-built wall adjacent to Whitepost Lane to be demolished and the wooden fencing and gate which were there previously reinstated.

Despite this, the local authority has said it became aware on Friday (February 21) of further work taking place on the site.

It has now served notices on the owners and occupiers of the land ordering them to cease all work immediately.

A statement released yesterday (February 24) added: “Where development is unacceptable and action is justified and in the public interest, we will use our formal enforcement powers to remove unauthorised development.

“Where we have issued a formal enforcement notice that sets out the steps needed to rectify the breach and the timeframe, it is an offence to ignore that notice once it comes into force.

“We take such matters seriously and will seek prosecution for non-compliance with an enforcement notice, including recovering costs incurred.

“While we understand the concerns of local residents, there are strict legal procedures we must follow which means enforcement cases can often take significant time to resolve.

“However, while acting within those legal restrictions, we do seek to resolve matters as swiftly as possible.”

Whitepost Farm has been subject to a long planning history with previous applications to station a caravan for security purposes and to change the use of the land into a Gypsy and Traveller site being refused.

Subsequent appeals have been dismissed by the local authority and by the Planning Inspectorate.

Despite this, a fresh application was submitted to Gravesham council on December 23 by a Mr Shilling to change the use of the land into a Traveller site with a mobile home, touring caravan and day room.

At the time of writing more than 330 objections had been lodged, many criticising the fact a mobile home has already appeared.

To see more planning applications and other public notices for your area, click here.

No letters of support have yet been received.

A decision on the latest proposals is expected towards the end of the month.