News Shorts and Other Busyness

Kings Hill Collective Tackle Planning Law

Squall 12, Spring 1996, pg. 13.

A collective living in benders in the Mendip Hills appealed against eviction to the Environment Department at the end of November.

The Kings Hill collective, based near Glastonbury, have fallen foul of planning regulations which do not differentiate between low impact dwellings and full urbanisation.

At a court hearing on November 30 the collective, which numbers around 20 benders, argued that “people are entitled to respect for their home and family life” under article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

They also argued that personal circumstances in such cases was becoming more and more relevant in English law, quoting two recent cases where the eviction of travellers was overturned because personal circumstances, such as the schooling of children, had not been taken into account.

As Squall goes to press the Kings Hill collective are awaiting a decision as to whether their appeal has been granted.