A Cornish village is in dispute with a pair of squatters residing on a ‘ghost estate’, who keep ponies and Rottweilers and claim they act as security.
Victoria Morrall, 39, and David Antram, 61, live in a development of 10 homes that have been empty for almost a decade after moving out of their caravan several months ago.
But now a row over their presence has broken out in the quiet village of St Erth, with residents calling for the couple to be evicted over claims they have made it an ‘intimidating’ place to be.
Pictures of the derelict estate show Ms Morrall and Mr Antram – who live in the downstairs of one of the properties – have made another of the homes a ‘makeshift stable’ for their ponies, with manure covering its downstairs.
Local authorities say they are now working on removing the pair from the site with the landowner.
According to Ms Morrall, she and Mr Antram live off-grid in a property that is not equipped with electricity, copper or pipework.
She said: ‘We basically just live in the downstairs. There is a room seven by four metres.
‘There is a front room, kitchen and a bedroom area. We cope – as we were living in a caravan for six years – so this is a bit of a step up.’
She said they have faced abuse from the public for their living circumstances and have had the police called out to them on numerous occasions.
One such occurrence included when the pair were arrested over firearms and trespass allegations. They were later released without charge.
Ms Morrall said: ‘We have been called travellers, gypsies, druggies – you name it we’ve been called it.
‘We’ve had animal welfare out for horses twice and they’ve taken one look and realised it was all very malicious.
‘We have had quite a lot of problems with the parish council. Some of the locals are just horrible.
‘There are always one or two – but we know we’ve helped stop the trashing of the estate.’
However, Ms Morrall said they have been ‘allowed’ by the landowner to remain at the site, and claims their presence has prevented ‘further damage’ being caused.
She said they are ‘the security at the moment,’ stopping teens from demolishing the buildings.
Should squatters who claim to protect abandoned properties be welcomed or forced to leave?
She said: ‘There have been loads of local teens coming in and vandalising the site.
‘Local builders have even come in and stolen bits – hence why the gates were locked in the first place.
‘Police have been out numerous times. It’s been going on since it was left derelict. We’ve been here seven months – and since then it has all stopped.’
The original planning application for the ten homes was submitted in 2013, along with access road and parking.
The application was initially refused by Cornwall Council and ruled to be ‘an isolated development in the countryside to the detriment of the rural character of the area.’
However, William Trevorrow – the applicant – appealed the ruling and the housing estate was permitted by the Planning Inspectorate in March 2015.
Building started shortly thereafter, but the houses have never been inhabited.
It has been owned by Barton Bridging Ltd since 2019 after the previous owner went into receivership.
The estate has now been fenced off, becoming overgrown and unkempt in what locals have branded a ‘blot on the village.’
St Erith Parish Council have said Ms Morrall and Mr Antram are on the estate without permission and steps are being taken to ensure their removal.
Ms Morrall said an informal arrangement is in place that allows them to stay until they find somewhere else to go.
She said: ‘We were homeless and living in a caravan – we were initially told we were renting this place but it turned out the guy we were renting off didn’t own the land.
‘We got in contact with the landowner who said we can stay.
‘We are the only two people living there.
‘It is odd. At first, it was weird. With no running water, no electric. We have to rely on a generator and get rainwater.
‘It has been a struggle, but you just cope.
‘We are not security in an official capacity. We don’t really do much. We just keep an eye out. We’ve got CCTV and our dogs go out on patrol.
‘Apart from that, we phone the police when the teens come and try and vandalise it. There is not much else we can do.
‘But we’ve helped to keep the teenagers away and are always checking everything.’
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed they were previously called to the derelict site after reports of a woman with a suspected firearm were made on January 24.
It was reported that a man had been making threats, with firearms officers deployed to the scene.
Two air weapons and a machete were seized.
A woman in her 30s and a man in his 60s – both from the Hayle area – were arrested on suspicion of trespass on land with a firearm.
Both were later released with no further police action being taken.
In a statement, St Erth Parish Council said: ‘The parish council, in conjunction with Cornwall Council and the landowner, would like to clarify and address a number of rumours currently circulating in relation to the site at Chenhalls Road.
‘The couple living on the site originally entered the property late last year without the permission of the landowner.
‘The landowner is actively taking steps to secure their departure. Once the site is vacated, all properties will be boarded up, the perimeter secured, CCTV installed and a security company appointed to carry out regular inspections.’
The landowner Barton Bridging Ltd has been contacted for comment.
