New Traveller site outside Crays Hill approved by Basildon council - Essex

From the Billericay Gazette

A NEW Traveller site just outside Crays Hill has been given the nod by Basildon Borough Council.

The authority's cabinet has agreed to lease a site in Gardiners Lane South from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

The land, which already has planning approval for 15 pitches, is likely to be inhabited later this year.

The cabinet took its decision at a meeting in Basildon on February 7.

The council's deputy leader, Phil Turner, said: "Everything has been approved for the new traveller site now.

"We will have set criteria for those that can move in just like those made for other housing allocation.

"This is not about re-housing people from Dale Farm; there is a list of people that need to be accommodated and the people who move in will have to fit a set criteria.

"For instance, they need to have a local link and must have been living or working in the borough."

Council leader Tony Ball said: "We have always been committed to working with the Gypsy and Traveller community to find suitable places for them to live, as we do with all sections of the community.

"It's important we work in partnership with the HCA and the developer to ensure this site is developed properly and pitches are allocated on a need basis.

"We will lease this land from the HCA and then sub-lease to Home Space Sustainable Accommodation (HSSA) which will ensure we maintain control of the site."

Mr Ball added: "I would like to reiterate that this site is not a solution to the Oak Lane roadside issue where Travellers are still living illegally, as places will be allocated on local need.

"We are not here to reward people for acting unlawfully."

see also: Inside Housing - Dale Farm council to set up new pitches