VIDEO: We’re not squatters, we’re eco-warriors: council seeks to evict group with grand plans for sustainable community at airfield

The Bearwood and Merley Organic Energy Community Group moved on to green belt land in Magna Road, Poole on January 15 and set up camp, digging up land to grow food.

A small group is living out of a straw bale structure with a log burning stove, as well as a couple of tents and a shed for tools, but told the Echo of grander ideas for a sustainable self-sufficient community on the former Moortown airfield site.

Their detailed plans show dwellings, crops, fruiting trees, medicinal plants and even a tree house for children, spiralling out from a central hub. The scheme includes housing and learning opportunities for homeless people.

Leading the group is Elisabeth Nolson of the Free Energy Party UK. She said the project had been a year in the planning and they had approached both local residents door to door, and Bournemouth and Poole councils. No formal planning application had been made.

She added: “They say we are trespassing, but we say we are not trespassing – this is public land and we are members of the public.

“We are demonstrating very simple effective solutions – how easy it is to house people and feed people.”

She said with her knowledge of common law she was “very confident” ahead of the hearing at Bournemouth and Poole County Court today, when Borough of Poole will seek to get the “unauthorised encampment” evicted.

The former Moortown airfield site is jointly owned by Poole and Bournemouth councils and had been considered for a new cemetery, but this was ruled out last year.

Cllr David Brown, who represents Merley and Bearwood on Borough of Poole, said residents had voiced concerns to him.

“My concern is the way they have gone about it,” he said.

“It would be useful to have some local community consultation before anything goes ahead up there. I would prefer something of community benefit, like allotments.”

Resident Lois Taylor said: “This is going to cost us money – Poole taxpayers. What a cheek.”

Borough of Poole declined to comment in advance of the court appearance. However, in a statement the council explained that because no vehicles were on the site, they were unable to use the same legal process as for unauthorised traveller camps.