Man’s epic move as parking war erupts in beachside town
British man Malcolm Thorpe has come up with one very unique way of preventing unwanted visitors from squatting on his land, and council can't do a thing.
A fed-up landowner who claims a group of "travellers" are squatting illegally on his property has gone above and beyond to force them out — or rather block them in — erecting 30 large, one-metre tall concrete bollards in front of the entrance.
British man Malcolm Thorpe, from Bembridge on the Isle of Wright, claims he bought the biggest car park in the area in 2011, which he allowed the public to use. But for over two years Thorpe, who owns the Bembridge Harbour Authority, said travellers mistreated the area, which is located on Bembridge Beach.
He said eventually the nomadic community settled permanently in the spot and "were excreting on the land, and putting all their litter out on the roadside". After negotiations failed to have the group moved on, Thorpe took matters into his own hands, installing the bollards.
The group are now unable to leave the car park in their vehicles, nor are tourists able to park in it. Thorpe said he'd allow the travellers to leave only if they agree to do so all at once.
Travelling community given ultimatum by fed-up landowner
If they decline the offer, he said they'll have to pay themselves for the bollards to be removed.
"If they came as a group and said they were all wanting to leave, I would do it free of charge," he said, The Telegraph reported. "But if they wanted to leave individually, they would have to pay for a crane to come and move the bollards away, it’s the only way they’re going to move them now."
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"They were excreting on the land, and they were putting all their litter out on the roadside," he said.
Dale Coulson, a 70-year-old traveller in the group, said he has no plans to leave. He claims he is parked on a village green — a common open area within a village or other settlement — and that in contrast to reports, kept the space clean and tidy.
"We’re stuck here now and we feel like we’re fighting a cause for everybody," he told the Telegraph. "We want freedom to be able to go and come back... we’ll be a thorn in his side until he moves on."
Isle of Wight council reportedly said that, because the parking war was taking place on private land, it had no jurisdiction. But Thorpe remains confident he'll prevail. "I think we will be able to encourage them one way or another. I’m sure it will be dealt with," he said.
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