Planning Dispute Near Dorset Home Ends in Council Decision
Earlier this month, Martin Clunes appeared on a red carpet in London alongside fellow stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi for the UK premiere of Wuthering Heights. However, on Thursday, the actor was present in the less glamorous setting of a county hall in the English West Country to witness councillors rule against him in a prolonged dispute involving a family of new travellers.
Members of Dorset Council voted to permit Theo Langton and Ruth McGill to remain permanently on a plot of land located down the lane from Clunes' residence. Clunes, known for his acclaimed portrayal of the cruel Mr Earnshaw in Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s novel, had opposed the travellers' application.
Langton and McGill have resided in this picturesque location on the outskirts of Beaminster for several years. The site comprises a caravan, a workshop, and a mobile van which they use to travel to festivals and shows where they sell their art, jewellery, and metalwork.
Identifying as "new travellers," the couple sought planning permission from Dorset Council to live permanently at the site, which they own.
Clunes and his wife, television producer Philippa Braithwaite, have consistently argued that Langton and McGill are not legally entitled to reside there and do not qualify as Travellers under the law.
Over time, concerns have been raised about the impact of the Langton and McGill residence on the surrounding countryside, as well as health risks due to the absence of mains water on the site.
Clunes and Braithwaite attended the county hall in Dorchester on Thursday to hear presentations from council officers and members of the Western and Southern Area Committee regarding the application.
Planning officer Bob Burden stated that the council was satisfied that Langton and McGill were Travellers who journey around the country selling items they create on site. He also noted the council’s difficulty in providing sufficient spaces for Gypsies and Travellers on council-owned sites.
Burden added that the visual impact on the landscape was minimal, as the site is largely concealed by trees and the nearest neighbouring properties are at a considerable distance.
Clunes did not address the committee directly; however, his barrister, John Steel KC, contended that the couple were not "statutory" Travellers and had declined offers of alternative pitches. Steel warned that granting permission would set a precedent.
"Others will follow," he said. "Others are waiting. The strong message will be that those with similar lifestyles can get around the planning process in ."
Two other neighbours also voiced objections. One expressed concern that allowing the couple to stay would open the door to "many others." Another noted that new encampments were already emerging, including one individual operating a foraging business in the nearby woods.
However, support for Langton and McGill was more pronounced. Over the years, Langton has contributed volunteer work within the local community, and both have conducted art workshops. The Reverend Jonathan Herbert, chaplain to Gypsies and Travellers in the Salisbury diocese, praised the couple’s off-grid, low-carbon lifestyle as exemplary.
The couple’s agent, Simon Rushton, emphasized the broader issue at stake.
"There is room in our communities for difference," he said.
A detailed report on the case covered various topics, including the list of West Country festivals the couple attended, such as Glastonbury and Boomtown, as well as the toilet arrangements on the site, which involve the use of charcoal and sawdust.
The council vote to approve Langton and McGill’s application passed by seven votes to two.
Following the meeting, Abbie Kirkby, head of public affairs and policy at an organisation working to end discrimination against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people, commented on the scarcity of available sites.
"Across the country, Gypsy and Traveller families face an impossible choice – a dwindling number of available stopping places, or long, costly and adversarial planning battles that can last for years. This uncertainty takes a heavy toll on families who are simply trying to live safely and peacefully on land they own."
