Basildon Council is taking a much tougher stance in dealing with the controversial Hovefields site to avoid any chance of it becoming the “next Dale Farm”.

Recently, the council has refused to determine retrospective planning applications for land west of Hovefields, land adjacent to Jessomine and Silva Lodge Kennels.

The council has gained more momentum in pushing the Government to amend laws that would give local authorities more power to move illegal encampments. Recently the council won a High Court injunction for industrial land and park areas in the borough.

Councillor Gavin Callaghan, chairman of the policy and resources committee, ran a breakfast summit inviting Essex County Traveller Unit and Basildon Council officers to discuss recommendations they can put forward for the Government.

He said: “We are working hard to deal with the illegal encampments in our borough. At the summit we had a good discussion about additional powers we would want and how we might want resources prioritised. We talked about pushing for government to make judiciary reviews for retrospective planning applications, which can take three years, more quickly to prevent a drain on council resources.”

Hovefields, in Wickford, currently has 25 pitches. There are 11 private pitches with permanent planning permission, one private site tolerated for planning, one public site and six unauthorised sites.

A pitch is a defined area of land on a site which is generally home to one household. They can vary in sizes and but could fit numerous caravans.

While the council has not done an estimate of how many caravans can fit on the entire Hovefields site, there are fears that up to 100 could be accommodated.

A Basildon Council spokesman said: “The council cannot prevent applications being made, regardless of the existing land classification. Each application is considered on its merits and with reference to planning policies. There are certain circumstances where the council can refuse to determine an application. Under section 70C of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 local authorities can decline to determine a retrospective planning application.”