TRAVELLERS evicted from the Dale Farm camp may not be given new pitches in Basildon.

New Government planning guidance, issued this week, has suggested councils that have carried out large-scale evictions of unauthorised camps should no longer be forced to accommodate those who have lost their homes.

The requirement for new pitches in Basildon borough – set by Government – had more than doubled from 121 to 257 after the 2011 Dale Farm evictions.

During a planning meeting in July, Basildon Council planning officer Neil Costen had warned the borough was “nowhere near” meeting the target.

Council leader Phil Turner has welcomed the change in Government stance and suggested other boroughs may have to take on responsibility for finding new traveller sites.

He said: “On the face of it, we are encouraged by that sort of rhetoric and policy, and the settled community will be encouraged as well.

“It might signal other councils should take their fair share of sites.

“We have been placed under enormous strain because we have tried to do what was right and reasonable.

“In that process, all the burden has fallen on us and maybe this is the first sign of some sort of pragmatic thinking by the Government.”

Existing requirements for traveller pitches have been based on existing demand.

It has meant, while Basildon has been asked to provide hundreds of new pitches, Southend, which has no existing authorised pitches, has no requirements for new sites.

The new Government guidance also aims to provide greater protection to countryside and green belt areas.

A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: “Where previously councils were required to provide sites for people evicted from large-scale unauthorised encampments that happened to be in their area, like Dale Farm, this will be removed.”

Communities Secretary Greg Clark added: “I’m determined to ensure fairness in the planning system, so everyone abides by the same rules.

“This new policy strengthens the hand of councils to tackle unauthorised development in their area, ensures all communities are treated equally and that the protection of the green belt is enforceable.”