Travellers given second chance over Laindon caravan site - Essex

From the Basildon Billericay Wickford Recorder

TRAVELLERS have been given fresh hope over controversial plans for a Traveller site on a wildlife haven.

Basildon Council and the Planning Inspectorate rejected proposals from Dale Farm Housing Association for a 12-pitch caravan site on land off Church Road, Laindon, following a long planning battle in 2011.

The plans were rejected on grounds of environmental damage as the land is a scheduled wildlife site.

However, Travellers appealed to the High Court and the Government’s treasury solicitors today announced they would not fight the case, as the wrong environmental directives were quoted in the appeal.

It means there will be a fresh planning inquiry into the Laindon site. But Travellers have hinted they will not press on with the Laindon site if Basildon Council allows part or all of Dale Farm to be rebuilt.

Traveller activist Grattan Puxon said: “A simple solution is possible. The council should agrees to the new planning application for Dale Farm.

No one else will touch this site due to the damage caused by the Council in the eviction.

But the Dale Farm residents will remedy the damage done if they can rebuild their homes.”

Council leader Tony Ball said the Laindon site would have to go through the appeal process again, but dismissed any talk of a new Dale Farm.

He said: “Dale Farm gone through planning process everything legally points to it should not be developed. there are highways issues and not just green belt. It has been done to death through the courts the Travellers really need to move on.”