Basildon Council told: Provide more Traveller sites

Basildon Council has been told it needs to provide more Traveller sites – just three months after spending £4.2million demolishing 51 illegal pitches at Dale Farm.

A planning inspector warned the council it had a duty to provide 62 new pitches.

James Ellis, of the Planning Inspectorate, issued the warning as he found in favour of a family fighting to stay at Hovefields, in Wickford.

The Dorans, and their five children aged 18 months to 16, had been living with temporary planning permission in Hovefields Drive.

However, the permission expired in September 2010 and they have been in a legal battle with the council since then. As he gave the family permission to stay, Mr Ellis said Mr Doran’s mental health problems meant he required a settled base and eviction could worsen his condition.

Speaking about the wider issue across Basildon, Mr Ellis said the council had provided just one new pitch in the borough since 2006.

His report said: “The evidence is suggestive to me there is a significant unmet need for Gypsy and Traveller sites within the district.”

But he said the council, which is preparing a new Traveller pitch strategy, will not be in a position to provide more pitches for at least five years. The decision has buoyed travellers from Dale Farm who are awaiting the outcome of an appeal to build 12 pitches at Church Road, Laindon, and are about to put in plans for nine plots at Dale Farm.

Campaigner Grattan Puxon said: “The decision adds hope for a successful outcome to fresh planning applications at Dale Farm. From this ruling, it also looks as though Basildon may have a hard time with any new enforcement orders issued in relation to caravans on Oak Lane, Crays Hill.”