Martin Clunes loses battle with council as it approves traveller site

Martin Clunes loses planning battle with council as it approves bid by his new-age hippie neighbours to build permanent traveller site next to his 130-acre Dorset farm

• Mr Clunes lodged an objection to the plans along with several neighbours 
• His new-age hippie neighbours applied to turn site into permanent traveller site

Doc Martin star Martin Clunes has lost a planning battle with a local council after it approved his neighbours’ plans to build a permanent traveller site next to his Dorset farm.

The actor, 61, and his fellow villagers are vehemently opposed and submitted an objection to plans for the controversial development near Beaminster, Dorset.

His new-age hippie neighbours, Theo Langton and Ruth McGill, have lived in an unauthorised mobile home on land that they own for 25 years.

In 2015 the local council granted the travelling couple a five year temporary licence to live on the site, but this expired in 2020 and they have been living there illegally ever since.

However, the couple subsequently applied to legalise the settlement and turn it into a permanent private residential traveller site, and have now had the proposal recommended for approval.

It is a major blow to Mr Clunes and his fellow villagers who are vehemently opposed to the controversial development near Beaminster, Dorset

The Clunes’ first bought a Grade II listed former vicarage in the village of Powerstock, near Bridport, in 2001 before moving into their current home in 2007

Mr Clunes and his wife Philippa lodged an objection to the plans (pictured) along with several neighbours

This will make their 45ft by 16ft mobile home on slabs legal along with a caravan that is already on site. It would also allow them to add two more caravans for visitors to stay in.

Mr Clunes and his wife Philippa lodged an objection to the plans along with several neighbours, claiming the proposals would intensify the existing travellers site and ruin the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Their planning agent, Will Cobley, said: ‘Our clients have lived at their property for many years and are concerned by the proposal, which seeks to authorise and intensify a nearby traveller use on a permanent basis.’

Mr Cobley said the Clunes’ believe that protected countryside is a ‘wholly unsuitable’ location for a traveller site and pointed out the lack of access to basic services like electricity, water and sewage.

Beaminster Town Council also said the land was ‘unsuitable’ for a travellers encampment as have neighbours Diana and Robert Clarke.

But it has now emerged that planning officials at Dorset Council are backing the application made by Mr Langton, 53, and Ms McGill, 48.

New-age hippie neighbours Theo Langton and Ruth McGill are looking to build a permanent home on their land after spending 25 years living there in a mobile home

Actor Martin Clunes pictured with two horses on his 130-acre farm near Beaminster in Dorset

In his report, council officer Bob Burden cited the general lack of sites for ‘gypsies, travellers and travelling showpeople’ in Dorset as a major reason why it should go ahead.

He said the demand for such pitches has increased in recent years and insisted the development would not harm the natural beauty of the area.

He said: ‘Given the ongoing policy and research background of lack of available site options, coupled with the minimal visual impact on the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty it is considered that the use of this site as a permanent base for this traveller family is acceptable.’

Members of Dorset Council’s planning committee will meet in the near future to vote on whether to go ahead with the recommendations of granting the application approval.

The Clunes’ have lived in Dorset for over 20 years.

They first bought a Grade II listed former vicarage in the village of Powerstock, near Bridport, in 2001 before moving into their current home in 2007.

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