"Squirrel Dan" evicted

A local man - who lived in a self-built cabin in the woods near Ramsey has been evicted.

Dan Richardson has resided in his cabin on land at Nut Glen since 2018.

His home - made from recycled and reclaimed material - was even nominated for a UNESCO biosphere award in 2019.

Last year, a court ruled  Mr Richardson has been living on government property, after a claim from the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture four years ago.

Deemster John Needham advised he must leave within five months. 

An online petition was launched to allow Mr Richardson to stay - gathering more than 1,500 signatures. 

The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture reissued this statement yesterday:

"The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture has engaged with Mr Richardson and had hoped that he would respect the findings of the court - which found in favour of the Department’s ownership and right to secure possession of the land - by vacating the land amicably. 

He was granted an extended period to do this which expired on Friday the 25 February 2022.

Unfortunately there did not appear to have been any efforts to remove his property from the site and as such the coroner secured possession of the site this morning (1 March 2022).

The Department will now carefully dismantle the cabin on Mr Richardson’s behalf and store it and its contents for a period of three months in case Mr Richardson wishes to erect it on other land where he may have appropriate consents and approvals.

Importantly the cabin was built without either planning approval or the Department’s consent, as land-owner. This could not be condoned or ignored. The Department has signposted Mr Richardson to related supporting agencies. 

The Island’s rural estate provides a popular visitor venue which DEFA seek to protect to ensure that it can continue to be enjoyed by the wide range of day visitors."