Travellers must get permission to live on the land they own

Environmental health officers at Arun District Council launched a lengthy legal investigation into who owned the land when six caravans appeared there two years ago.

They have now determined it is owned by one of the travellers but it is still illegal for him and the rest of the group to remain there unless they apply for planning permission.

Paul Unsworth, head of environmental health at Arun council, said: "Over the last couple of years we have been trying to establish who actually owns the land. We have now done that.

"Technically it is illegal for them to be there without permission and we have told them they have three weeks to apply for permission before the council takes action."

He said if no application was lodged, the travellers could be prosecuted under the Public Health Act.

"We have had very few problems since they arrived," said Mr Unsworth. "I think we have only ever had two complaints and they are not creating any problems. There is a case for them to be there but the most important thing they need to do now is to apply for permission."

Mr Unsworth said he would not be objecting when they did, and, if anybody else did, he said he was sure the council could work with the travellers to solve the problems.

Ian Rudkin, registrar at the crematorium, confirmed he was not aware of any complaints.