Martin Clunes battles hippie neighbours over travellers' site near his home

In a dispute that has spanned two years in Dorset, England, actor Martin Clunes has escalated his opposition to his neighbours, Theo Langton and Ruth McGill, who are attempting to establish a permanent travellers' site on a woodland plot near Clunes' £5 million farmhouse. Clunes, who stars in the popular TV series 'Doc Martin', has raised concerns about the couple's status as legitimate travellers, questioning their intentions and the validity of their application submitted to Dorset Council. This dispute centers on the claim that they have failed to demonstrate a genuine need for a permanent site, as they must prove that their travelling is economically tied to their means of livelihood. The couple has been living in a static caravan for over 20 years on a temporary license and have maintained that they travel annually to multiple festivals across the UK as part of their work. They argue that their claim to be classified as travellers is backed by expert evidence from Dr. Simon Rushton, a town planner with extensive experience in gypsy and traveller-related planning policies. However, Clunes’ legal representation has cast doubt on their claims, asserting that the couple has not provided sufficient evidence of their economic activities tied to their travelling. Support for Langton and McGill's application has emerged from local residents, who have submitted letters to Dorset Council endorsing their case. This local support highlights a contrasting perspective to Clunes' opposition, suggesting that their presence on the land does not cause any disruption to the community. For instance, local resident Betty Billington stated that Clunes was aware of the couple's residential use of the land prior to purchasing his property. The planning committee at Dorset Council will ultimately decide on the couple's request for a permanent traveller's site, which has been recommended for approval by a planning officer. As the deliberation continues, the tensions between Clunes and his neighbours reflect broader issues surrounding land use, community rights, and the classification of gypsies and travellers in the UK, raising questions of fairness and community dynamics in the context of planning regulations.