It's a classic case of life not imitating art as 'Doc Martin' actor Martin Clunes loses a four-year saga against the installation of a Travellers' site near his lush Dorset digs. Clunes, who has called Dorset home since 2007, put up a good fight but was ultimately outranked by a 7 to 2 council committee vote. The 'Wuthering Heights' star was left in the cold, as local lovebirds Theo Langton and Ruth McGill got the go-ahead to permanently park their 45ft mobile home-next-door.
Backing their corner, the Traveller twosome received an outpouring of community support and a green light despite Dr. Martin's diagnosis of planning policy contagions. Clunes, taking a page from his character's grumpy book, contested the couple's nomadic credentials, citing their festival frolicking didn't fit the bill. But alas, Dorset Council's gypsy liaison officer said the duo danced to the tune of the 'New Age Traveller community' well enough, and the actor's objections were overruled.
The decision comes with strings attached, though, as any new digs must disappear within four months if the pair pull up stakes. With housing shortages and 47 letters singing their praises, it looks like the Travellers will be enjoying the scenic English countryside much to the chagrin of their celebrity neighbour. You can't write this stuff - well, we just did, but you know what we mean!
