A dispute between the Church of Scientology, local residents and West Sussex Highways that has been ongoing for over two years has finally been resolved, with taxpayers footing the bill, Scientology Business can reveal.
Since September 2024, Highways have been embroiled in a lengthy back-and-forth between angry locals and the controversial church over an extensive hedge planted on public land opposite the entrance to Scientology’s UK headquarters. The 130ft hedge and a concealed fence were believed to have been placed by the church along Saint Hill Road near East Grinstead, Sussex as a means to minimise space available for protestors to stand. Government officials declared them “unauthorised structures” and ordered their removal. Wooden sleepers placed along the road were also considered a danger to motorists, should they become dislodged.
After multiple deadline extensions and Scientology claiming the removal order amounted to “religious discrimination”, the hedge and concealed fence were eventually removed in June 2025. However, the Church subsequently applied for – and were granted – a Planting Licence, which allowed them to place a new hedge in exactly the same spot.
The Planting Licence came with conditions, requiring the hedge to consist of no more than 35 individual trees with limits on the species and how close they could be placed to the highway so as to ensure there was sufficient space for pedestrians to seek refuge from oncoming traffic. However, in true keeping with their reputation for doing what they want, Scientology planted 105 trees and dug several large holes in front of the bush making it unsafe for pedestrians – or protestors – to use.
Despite demands from the Highways department, the Church continued to promise it would resolve issues along the verge, only for follow-up inspections to find no changes had been made. Scientology did finally remove the excess plants in December 2025, however they were simply dumped along with other garden waste behind the hedge while the holes they had dug in the pedestrian refuge remained in place.
Now, Highways have stepped in to resolve problems at the site but despite the issues arising from Scientology’s non-compliance with the conditions of their Planting Licence, the taxpayer are expected to foot the bill.
Here’s the timeline of events, as reported here on Scientology Business:
September 19th 2024: West Sussex Highways inspection finds 130ft of hedge, concealed fencing and wooden sleepers placed opposite the entrance to Scientology’s UK headquarters near East Grinstead, Sussex. Scientology are informed they would be able to apply for a Planting Licence, but only after the existing unauthorised structures are removed.
September 24th 2024: The Underground Bunker breaks the story: Highways order Scientology to remove the unauthorised structures within 28 days, with a possible 14 day extension should they not hear back from the Church.
October 1st 2024:
Scientology representative argues the structures were “put there on the specific recommendation of Inspector Paul Scott of Sussex Police more than 10 years ago, and was inspected and approved by West Sussex Highways at that time,” however the Police do not have the authority to approve placing permanent obstructions along a public right of way. After being pushed by the Council Scientology were unable to provide any evidence of the Highways department giving authorisation.
October 15th 2024: Scientology apply for a licence to erect temporary hoarding along the highway in order to obstruct protestors ahead of forthcoming IAS gathering.
October 17th 2024: Highways reject the application, citing safety concerns.
October 23rd 2024: Scientology’s UK spokesperson threatens Highways, describing their order to remove the structures as “discrimination” and warning officials to “be very careful.”
November 4th 2024: Extension granted for removal expires.
January 15th 2025: Highways arboriculturist raises a ticket for the structures to be removed. Meanwhile, Scientology challenges property boundaries and file an official complaint with the Council.
January 27th 2025:
Highways informs Scientology Business the complaint had been rejected, however Scientology have the opportunity to escalate it to the Local Government Ombudsman. Removal works put on hold until the outcome of the complaint is finalised.
June 3rd 2025: Janet Laveau emails Highways stating “removal is in progress. It should be completed in the next 24 hours or so.”
June 6th 2025: Highways inspector visits the site and reports that although some of the structures had been removed, work still needed to be done in order to restore the verge to its native state.
June 13th 2025: Highways chase Scientology asking for an update and two weeks later they threaten to reconsider the granting of a Planting Licence if the stumps and fence posts were not removed by 23rd July
July 7th 2025: Scientology tells Highways “everything has been removed”
July 8th 2025: Highways inspection takes place, with a report being sent the following day noting several tree stumps still had not been removed.
July 30th 2025: Scientology writes to Highways saying “all of the roots have been extracted and disposed of now.”
August 1st 2025: Highways once again inspect the site
August 7th 2025: Highways send another inspector after a local resident complained the verge had been left in a state of disrepair. Highways then confirms the roots, stumps and other unauthorised obstructions had been removed and that they will proceed with Scientology’s application for a planting licence.
September 10th 2025: Internal email obtained through the Freedom of Information Act shows Highways officials discussing special circumstances being adopted regarding the planting licence: “It is usually only for trees and for the Parish or District, but this is a special for the Church of Scientology and for trees to form a hedge, which is not within the norm of the Licence, but this has been adapted.”
September 18th 2025: With their October IAS event date looming, Scientology applies pressure on the council to hurry up with the granting of the licence “as their supplier has lead times to adhere to” and Highways subsequently ask for the application to be expedited.
September 24th 2025: Planting Licence for up to 35 individual trees is issued by West Sussex Highways
October 23rd 2025: Scientology plant new hedge, consisting of 71 plants. This later rises to 105 ahead of the IAS event.
Since October, Highways have engaged in continuous dialogue with residents and the Church regarding the additional plants. Eventually, Scientology removed them but simply dumped them behind the hedge and left several holes were still left along the verge. Several inspections have taken place over the last nine months with Area Highways Manager Andy Tuck finally stepping in to resolve the problem earlier today.
In a statement, Mr. Tuck told us “I can confirm that today I attended the site together with a Senior Highways Steward and a Highways Steward. During our visit, we removed the holly bushes that had previously been taken out and placed behind the remaining hedge.”
“In addition, we inspected the verge and filled the holes that were unfortunately left following the removal of some of the holly bushes, which had been undertaken at the request of WSCC.”
When questioned on whether the taxpayer would be footing the bill, or if Highways were seeking to recover the associated costs from Scientology, he said “During the course of my inspection, I identified that the holly bushes had been removed from the verge and that there were associated holes present. In the interest of operational efficiency and effective use of resources, I made the decision to address both matters at the same time by removing the remaining vegetation and undertaking the necessary filling of the holes that had been left by their removal.”
“This approach enabled the issue to be resolved promptly on site, rather than continuing with a protracted email exchange with different parties, which would not have represented the most efficient use of my time or public resources.”
“As part of my role, I am required to make informed decisions on how matters such as this can be brought to a practical and timely resolution.”
One local resident told us, “This is absolutely ridiculous, I am so angry. If I did that I’d get a bill. Why are we paying for this is what I’d like an answer to from Highways.”
Responding to comments on social media from locals, County Councillor Jacquie Russell said “During the course of their inspection today, [Highways] identified that the holly bushes that they had previously requested be removed from the verge, had been removed from their planting spot but not cleared away with the holes they were planted in remaining unfilled. It was therefore decided that in the interests of public safety, operational efficiency and effective use of resources, to address both matters at the same time by removing the remaining vegetation and undertaking the necessary filling of the holes that had been left unfilled.”
“Given this is a pedestrian refuge and public land upon which a hedge should never have been planted in the first place, Highways considered it more important to mitigate risk of injury by removing that risk, resolving the issue whilst on site, rather than continuing with a protracted email exchange with different parties, which would not have represented the most efficient use of officer time or public resources.”
