Hillam village field paved over by travellers in rapid operation

A group of travellers has established an unauthorised camp in the village of Hillam, North Yorkshire, following what local officials described as a ‘military-scale’ operation. The group reportedly began work on a Friday afternoon at 4:45 pm, coinciding with the closing of council offices, to ensure they could operate over the weekend without immediate intervention.

According to local reports, the site—originally a grazing paddock for horses—was stripped of grass and covered with approximately 50 truckloads of concrete rubble, stones, and bricks. Tall fences were erected to enclose the compound, and septic tanks were installed to manage waste for dozens of caravans.

North Yorkshire County Councillor Tim Grogan stated that the speed of the development has left residents ‘devastated’ and ‘furious.’ He noted that the sudden change has impacted local property sales and caused concerns regarding wildlife displacement and stray dogs. While the council eventually served a stop notice a week later, residents expressed frustration that the lack of weekend enforcement allowed the rapid construction to proceed.