Residents’ fears for new Thundersley Travellers' site - Essex

From the Echo

PEOPLE living near a planned new Traveller pitch in Thundersley say they will move out if the site gets approval.

Residents fears the site, known as Janda Fields, off Fane Road, could become the new Dale Farm , after a group of five caravans moved there over the August bank holiday weekend.

Plans to create a fully-fledged three-pitch caravan site were then submitted to Castle Point Council.

However, concerns have been raised the site could expand after a neighbouring piece of land, owned by Castle Point Council, was put up for sale.

Anxious residents in nearby Great Burches Road say the neighbourhood would become a ghost town if the plans were approved, as homeowners are already considering moving aware from the area.

One 46-year-old woman, who did not want to be named, said: “All the residents here are up in arms about this. It used to be a lovely rural place, but now we have quad bikes coming through and caravans coming on to the site at all hours of the day. What makes it worse is only five people were told about this application.

“Lots of people are saying already they are going to move because they’re worried property values will plummet if this goes ahead. I will be one of them.”

Castle Point Council has already said it will not be ordering the removal of caravans or serve notices banning further development until the planning application is determined.

One 51-year-old man, who also did not want to be named, said: “A lot of the people here are genuinely frightened by this. I just don’t know what to do. I’ve lived here 16 years and poured my retirement into this home, but I do not want to stay here.

“I feel so let down by the council for not taking action. You would think it would be only too keen to prevent another Dale Farm happening here.”

Patrick and Miles McCarthy, who both have links to the former Dale Farm site in Crays Hill, paid £83,500 in cash for the two-acre site in June this year.

Bidding for the additional green belt land off Bassenthwaite Road ended last week and the buyer is set to be known in the coming days.