Travellers Seek Pitsea Site Despite Residents' Opposition
| Published: 14th December 2007 00:03 |
Travellers based at the illegal site at Dale Farm in Crays Hill are appealing against a decision in July to refuse them permission to set up a mobile home park in Pitsea.
The travellers want the ability to move onto the site in Terminus Drive, if a judicial review set for early 2008, upholds Basildon Council's decision to evict them from their existing position.
"propaganda exercise"
The travellers have already met opposition to their plans, with over 350 residents, local to the Pitsea site declaring the objections to the proposal. Meanwhile Basildon council leader, Malcolm Buckley, said "I have no idea why they are making this appeal because even if they were given planning permission English Partnerships own the land and they have other plans for it - I talked to them last week". He added "I think it's a propaganda exercise and they are hoping that this might put them in a stronger position for the judicial review."
Billericay MP, John Baron, highlighted the depth of feeling over the travellers latest move, when he said: "Everyone who lives in our community should abide by its rules and a number of travellers have failed to do this. The 5,000 signatures from people against travellers moving to Pitsea shows the strength of local feeling."
