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Travellers concrete over North Yorkshire village in 48-hour 'military-scale' operation timed to dodge council

From the Newshound archive · first published 24 September 2026 · last updated 25 September 2026.

Hardcore, fencing and septic tanks already installed at the paddock in Hillam, North Yorkshire, where two families in the village have since seen house sales collapse after dozens of caravans moved onto the site.
Hardcore, fencing and septic tanks already installed at the paddock in Hillam, North Yorkshire, where two families in the village have since seen house sales collapse after dozens of caravans moved onto the site.

A convoy of lorries moved on land at the edge of Hillam, North Yorkshire, at 4.45pm on Friday 11 September — the moment council offices began to close — and worked overnight to concrete the site before officials could act. Around 50 lorry-loads of hardcore were laid, £33,000 worth of timber fencing erected, and septic tanks installed for dozens of caravans before the weekend was out.

North Yorkshire councillor Tim Grogan said the operation was 'planned and executed incredibly fast... on a military scale' with workers never stopping overnight.

Two families in the village saw house sales fall through after the site was established, and deer along with other wildlife have since fled the area.

The land was allegedly sold to the buyers as horse pasture — locals could only watch helplessly as it was stripped and buried under concrete rubble, stones and bricks.

MoreGB NewsTravellers destroy leafy English village in 48-hour 'military-scale' operation to concrete over fieldsAOL News UKTravellers destroy UK village in 48-hour 'military-scale' operationDaily Mail NewsTravellers build illegal camp in just 48 hours as their 'military invasion' moves into quaint village minutes after council offices close for the weekendmsn.comTravellers destroy leafy English village in 48-hour military-scale operationThe SunTravellers set up camp in ANOTHER 48-hour 'military-style' operation bulldozing village field with diggers & astro turf - The Sun
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