3:25pm Thursday 10th May 2007
By Jon Austin
NEW traveller camps may have to be created by every council in Essex to solve the build-up in Basildon.
Two options make up a review, launched by the East of England Regional Assembly, which has now gone out to public consultation until July 31.
Option one, would see Basildon develop 157 more caravan pitches to complement the 109 legal plots it already has, while neighbours Southend and Castle Point create no sites.
The other would lead to illegally-camped travellers moved out of Basildon to smaller camps across Essex, with a minimum of 15 pitches in every local council. Basildon Council leader Malcolm Buckley said: "We will push for the second option and welcome its inclusion.
"We have argued an even distribution of sites, with all councils taking their share, is the only way to reach a long-term solution."
However, David Garston, executive councillor for sustainable Southend, said his council would push for option one.
He said: "No need for sites was identified in Southend and this issue is led by market forces.
"Even if need was found, Southend does not have the open spaces needed for sites."
Councillor John Reynolds, chairman of the assembly's planning panel, said: "Increasing the availability of legal pitches will provide suitable places for gypsies and travellers to live and help tackle the problem of unauthorised sites.
Information is available at www.eera.gov.uk Two consultation days will take place at Tilbury Riverside Arts Activity Centre on Wednesday, May 30 from 2pm and Essex Records Office, Chelmsford, on Tuesday, June 5, from 7pm. Call 01284 729407.
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