RESIDENTS in Hullbridge are furious that travellers were allowed to move yet another caravan onto a camp which has been refused planning permission by Rochford District Council.

Last week, the Echo reported how travellers trying to move a large mobile home onto green belt land off Watery Lane, Hullbridge, had caused traffic chaos when it became stuck in the narrow road.

The travellers eventually moved the home onto their land and added to the seven caravans and wooden structure already in place.

The council had denied planning permission to camp on this land earlier in the year and have issued an enforcement notice to the occupants but despite this, the travellers were allowed to move their new home on to the land.

Brian Carleton, chair of the Hullbridge Residents’ Association, said: “We are now asking the council to have the police involved and eject the travellers off this site.

“The travellers are now in blatant disregard of all the council’s notices that have been sent and the matter is now getting worse.”

Rochford District Council’s councillor responsible for planning, Ian Ward said: “The council was made aware that a group of travellers had arrived on a piece of land in Watery Lane in May 2016 and we have since refused planning permission and served an enforcement notice.

“There is a current appeal with the Planning Inspectorate against the notice which requires the use of the land to cease and remove all caravans and vehicles from the site.

“We take the concerns of our residents very seriously but we must always ensure that we are acting legally and consistently in our response.”

The police attended the scene after reports of an illegal camp being set up. A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: “Police were called to Watery Lane in Rawreth shortly after 3.20pm on Thursday, December 2 following reports that a caravan was blocking the road and an illegal camp was being set up. Officers attended and found it to be a civil dispute and advice was given.”