The Church of Scientology have claimed West Sussex County Council’s request they remove unauthorised structures obstructing the public highway outside their UK headquarters amounts to ‘discrimination’ and warned the Highway Authority to be “very careful”, new documents reveal.

Last December, we reported the Church of Scientology had been ordered to remove 130ft (40m) of hedgerow, kerbing and a concealed fence it had installed to obstruct protestors on public land opposite the entrance to their UK headquarters at Saint Hill near East Grinstead. Following an inspection by a Highways Arboriculturist on 19th September 2024, Scientology were given 28 days to remove the “unauthorised structures” ahead of the annual gathering of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) event in October but were subsequently given a further 14 day extension, which expired on 4th November. At that time, Scientology claimed they had permission to install the obstructions and refused to remove them despite the Council noting they present a “hazard to the highway” due to their proximity to the road.

Scientology Business can now reveal that Church representatives have continued in their refusal to comply with regulations, going so far as to threaten the Council by claiming their request to remove the structures amounts to “discrimination” due to their property being designated a Place of Public Worship and instructing the Highways Authority to “be very careful.”

Referring to protestors who gathered outside their headquarters last year calling for an end to abuse inside the organisation, Scientology’s UK Managing Director Janet Laveau told the Council “I fully appreciate that West Sussex Highway authority is coming under a lot of pressure from people who wish only to discriminate and incite hatred against our religion. However, the Highway Authority needs to be very careful about attempts to be drawn into doing the same. This would not only be improper, but also illegal under our laws which protect against discrimination and mandate equal and proportionate treatment.”

The protests, which took place in November 2023 and October 2024, were peaceful and called for an end to Scientology’s abusive practices, not their religious beliefs and Police were present throughout the whole event. No arrests or cautions were made and there is no evidence to suggest the demonstration involved any harassment or ‘incitement of hatred’.

In another email sent to the local authority, a Scientology spokesperson said “I do wish to raise the point that, if you look all along the Highway down Saint Hill Road, you will note that this section provides better visibility than much of the rest of the road. That is because it is tidy and it is kept maintained. That leaves me with a strong suspicion that you singling out this specific section of the Highway is motivated by an anti-Scientology sentiment, and was not the genuine Highways’ priority that your department’s actions would indicate”

Nonetheless a Highways manager concluded on 10th January 2025 “All things considered, we have made the decision to have the unauthorised planting removed from the public highway”

Through a Freedom of Information Act request, we can now also bring you the letters West Sussex County Council sent to Scientology back in September, when concerns were also raised regarding temporary planters and a large ‘Welcome to Saint Hill’ banner placed along the road in order to obstruct protestors and promote the 2023 IAS event.

A week later on 25th September 2024, the Council also raised the issue of the unauthorised hedging and fencing with Scientology.

In response, Scientology’s ‘External Affairs Director’ wrote to the Council asking to arrange a meeting to discuss the issue, stating “It appears you have been misinformed concerning the hedge”, which was “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 jurisdiction over the installation of structures on public land as this falls with the local authority and the Church are yet to provide evidence of their claims.

The letter, dated 1st October 2024, continues “Before that was put there the bushes actually extended further into Saint Hill Road than is currently the case, and presented a greater danger to passing traffic than the neat hedge that is now there.”

Scientology do not deny planting the hedgerow and installing the concealed fence and admit their intention in doing so was to disrupt protestors.

“The problem with what was there before was that when there was an occasional protest outside of the church, protestors would try to congregate there. They would push themselves into the bushes, but for most of the time ended up actually on the road – causing an obstruction and danger to passing traffic. This was why the police made the recommendation that they did, to us and the Rockwood Park residents. Its why the Highways Authority were also happy with it.”

Scientology’s description of protests outside their property as “occasional” creates a significant hurdle in their attempts to ban protesting through a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO). Ahead of last year’s IAS event, Scientology filed an application for Mid-Sussex District Council to restrict the rights of protestors gathering outside their property.

PSPOs are a measure that can be implemented by the local authority in order to combat “unreasonable and persistent” anti-social behaviour, however strict criteria need to be met to justify their use. According to the Local Government Association’s guidelines, the activity being restricted must be “persistent or continuing in nature.” Only two protests have occurred outside Saint Hill in the last 6 years and this new document undermines Scientology’s stance that a protest ban is needed in order to avoid disruption to the local community.

Scientology representatives subsequently met with the Highways Authority on 15th October and submitted an application for a licence to install a temporary “barrier on the verge for three days” in order to “mark the path so we keep people off the carriageway.”

West Sussex County Council rejected their application, writing on 17th October 2024 “we are unable to support a hoarding licence application for the area in question, as the safety requirements would not be able to be met; this includes the required safety zone between the carriageway and footway.”

“West Sussex County Council as the Highway Authority for West Sussex has a duty to assert and protect the rights of the public to the use and enjoyment of the highway under the provisions of the Highways Act 1980, and as previously addressed, any items deposited or erected on the highway will be classed as an unlawful obstruction. We are currently reviewing the trees that are planted within the highway boundary; however, I must make you aware that it is likely we will seek their removal.”

This prompted Scientology’s UK Managing Director Janet Laveau to hit-out, warning the council to “be very careful” in an email sent at 9 minutes past midnight on 23rd October 2024, just two days before the IAS event. In the email, Ms. Laveau claimed the Council’s attempts to resolve the issue of Scientology’s unauthorised structures amounts to “discrimination.”

“The Highway Authority needs to come and talk to us to resolve our very real concerns, and we will work together to address them, not write to us precipitously and without proper regard for the actual facts and history. They should not allow themselves to be used as part of a campaign by people who wish to destroy religion.”

Protestors have previously denied Scientology’s claims, pointing to their signage which carries a message of kindness and compassion. Photographs taken of the protest in 2023 show banners and placards that read “When was the last time you saw your family? They love you and so do we” and “It’s not out-ethics to put your mental health first. The Aftermath Foundation will help.”

West Sussex County Council have continued to press for the unauthorised structures to be removed, with the arboriculturist writing to the highways manager on 15th January “Apologies for the delay in responding to you on this. I can certainly raise a job to have the trees in question removed from the public highway, including their stumps/root balls. Are separate arrangements being made to have the wooden sleepers removed also? As they may need to be moved to allow the contractors to remove the stumps. Or I may be able to get them removed as part of the same job, but would just need to check with them that this is something they can do.”

However, due to a complaint and Freedom of Information Act request filed by Scientology, the Highways Manager replied on 16th January “things have become a bit more complicated.” The complaint was rejected by the Council, with the latest email dated 27th January 2025 telling us “We are on hold subject to outcome of complaint. Stage 1 has been issued and she could request a Stage 2 and then referral to the LGO [Local Government Ombudsman]. I think it’s reasonable to await the outcome of those before proceeding with the works.”

It is unclear whether Saint Hill have decided to proceed with the second stage of the complaints procedure, but we will keep a close eye on the story and bring you news as it develops.

You can download and read the documents we received from the Council under the Freedom of Information Act below.