A MOBILE home park which has been built on protected woodland near Finchampstead is being closed down.

It brings to an end a marathon six-year battle to get the 22 mobile homes removed from Pineridge in Nine Mile Ride.

Wokingham Borough Council has been at the heart of the battle, which began in June 2009 and followed a series of planning appeals and court hearings.

The mobile home park was built on land classified as protected woodland and never had planning consent.

Since 2009, its owner had repeatedly failed to comply with enforcement orders to remove the mobile homes and restore the land to its proper condition, according to the council.

But now, following the latest High Court action resulting in an Injunction Order, the mobile homes have finally been removed.

Wokingham Borough Council’s executive member for planning and regeneration Cllr Mark Ashwell, described the news as "a tremendous result", which he said would allow the woodland to naturally regenerate.

"It shows how determined we are to protect our countryside," insisted Cllr Ashwell.

"We have faced repeated legal obstruction from the owner of this site, but our success proves that professionalism and perseverance will win in the end against illegal developments and legal trickery.

"I'd like to thank the officers and elected members who have kept going in the face of numerous obstacles to secure this victory and to uphold the integrity of our planning policies.

"We have always been aware that people have made their homes in this park, but the fact is they should never have been there and have had plenty of time to make alternative arrangements."