Norfolk council trying to close off encampment in Belton

Since then, he has established friendly relations with the neighbours, set up two vegetable patches and even built the village a new sign.

Now, however, his days living on the side of the lane look numbered after council officials ordered him and his terrier, Biscuit, to move on.

But many locals are supporting his efforts to stay.Martin Haynes and his dog Biscuit (Image: Bruno Brown)

As well as sprucing up the verge where he lives, they credit him with other contributions to village life - including keeping doggers away.

AN ECCENTRIC LIFESTYLE

Mr Haynes, 50, grew up in the village near Great Yarmouth before leaving for Dorset in his early twenties.

He returned to Norfolk during the pandemic to be near his father, who still lives in Belton, and to catch up with old friends while continuing to live his eccentric lifestyle.

Mr Haynes - who works as a builder, decorator and gardener doing "bits and bobs" for people - says locals are happy with his presence.

He says it is because he has helped to tidy up the area on the verge of private land, which is on the far edge of the village where the road, Sandy Lane, leads to a footpath towards Fritton.

He added that he has helped prevent fly-tipping in the area and that his presence has even discouraged people who had been using the lane for outdoor sexual activities.

As well as creating his vegetable patch, where he grows cabbages, runner beans, courgettes, aubergines, tomatoes and pumpkins, Mr Haynes also crafts wooden furniture and has set up a seat for walkers.Mr Haynes and his dog Biscuit (Image: Bruno Brown)

He said he takes pride in the area by keeping the footpath tidy, cutting the grass and keeping the hedges trimmed.

"I do think it is harsh that they are trying to get rid of me," he said.

"I do everything to keep the lane tidy and accessible for walkers.

"I went away for a couple of months last year, and when I returned, people were so thankful to see me back as they said there had been repeated issues of fly-tipping and even dogging.

"Upon clearing up the mess dumped where I pitched up I found four pairs of women's underwear as well as used contraception.

"All villagers that I speak with regularly who pass me on their walks have told me is far less pleasant than my furniture and vegetables."

A HAPPY HOME

Mr Haynes and Biscuit had lived at various rural locations around the Yarmouth area before settling in Belton.

One of the vegetable patches which Mr Haynes says he built from fly-tipped wood (Image: Bruno Brown) The largest of the pumpkins which Mr Haynes has grown this year (Image: Bruno Brown)

He said at other spots he had faced "constant harassment", including having eggs thrown at his van, before settling in Sandy Lane.

"Though I have pastoral views across the fields and it feels remote, here I am just 50 metres from a row of houses," he said.

"This makes me feel far safer than I have encountered in the 25 years I have been living freely and self-sufficiently with nature.

"And truly people here in Belton largely have been very welcoming and really nice. It is a lovely community here.

"Obviously you are not going to please everyone, I am aware of that and respect people's views, but most people have been so kind which has helped make me feel at home."

Mr Haynes says he has had a successful year for courgettes (Image: Bruno Brown) Mr Haynes has lived in this van for the last twelve and a half years (Image: Bruno Brown) One of the signs which Mr Haynes has made for the village (Image: Submitted)

Mr Haynes - who says he uses the facilities at nearby pubs and businesses - says that he has had visits from council officials over the last year who are trying to remove him from the site and put him in a council house.

But he is reluctant to move.

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"I would not consider myself a traveller or a gypsy. I am just a man who likes a cheap, easy and peaceful living," he said.

"The council people who come say that I need to be put in a house, to which I say 'no thank you'. I don't want to live in a house, otherwise I would have chosen that life years ago.

"They just don't get it. But I really hope they realise that I am an honest and approachable man who is merely minding my own business and who saves the council trouble."One of the chairs which Mr Haynes has made in front of a vegetable patch (Image: Bruno Brown) Mr Haynes has lived in this van for the last twelve and a half years (Image: Bruno Brown)

A Norfolk County Council spokesman said: “Norfolk County Council are aware of the situation and are dealing with it in accordance with the Norfolk Protocol for Managing Unauthorised Encampments.”

WHAT DO LOCALS HAVE TO SAY?

Shaun Hicks, 63, lives in a property on Sandy Lane with his family which is within a stone's throw of where Mr Haynes lives in his van.

He claims that before the 50-year-old and Biscuit decided to base up on the corner, it was a crime hotspot.

Sandy Lane resident, Shaun Hicks (Image: Bruno Brown) He said: "Before he was living there cars used to get dumped, burned out, all sorts of rubbish was being chucked there.

"Cars would pull up there throughout the night too, we never were sure why or what they would be doing.

"Kids used to go there to smoke, there was always something going on there.

"He’s good as gold as far as I am concerned. He minds his own business.

"He is very friendly and approachable. He’s just a decent human being choosing to live the way he does and I think we should respect that." 

Sandy Lane in Belton viewed from the corner where Mr Haynes resides (Image: Bruno Brown)

Another nearby resident, in his 70s and who wished to remain anonymous, said: “It was a dump before, look at all the work he has put in to keep it tidy here. 

“We should be thanking him and respecting him for being selfless and minding his own business. I think it will be difficult to find someone along the lane who has an issue with him." 

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However, David Mills, chair of Belton Parish Council, says there have been many concerns raised from residents in the village about Mr Haynes.

He said: "We have had many complaints from people in the village, people concerned about where he is putting his waste, lighting fires there, and the fact he is living illegally.

"If people bring concerns to us, as a council we have to chase up their problems and find a resolution since we act on behalf of the village.

"It is Norfolk County Council land he is living on so we have just contacted them and it is in their hands."