Traveller claims bunglow went unnoticed for 18 years (From Echo)

Traveller claims bunglow went unnoticed for 18 years

7:23am Friday 29th February 2008

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A TRAVELLER is claiming his bungalow - built close to the Dale Farm campsite at Crays Hill - has been there for the best part of 20 years.

The claims came to light after Basildon Council officials launched an urgent investigation into the bungalow's status, prompted by a query about the site by the Echo.

Earlier this week, we alerted the council to hardcore being laid on green belt land next to the bungalow site, which is between the traveller camp in Oak Lane, and the A127.

Traveller Sam Vinden, 37, has since submitted a planning application to keep the bungalow - claiming it has been there for many years.

Echo checks have found Mr Vinden already has a legitimate home elsewhere.

He won a planning appeal, last February, when a Government inspector allowed him, his wife and children to remain in a caravan on an unauthorised pitch in New Park Road, Hockley.

Mr Vinden also paid an undisclosed sum for the strip of land, near Dale Farm, Crays Hill, in May 2006, using his Hockley address to register the purchase.

Mr Vinden has told the Echo the bungalow has been there for 18 years.

He has applied for permission to stay, using gipsy campaigner Dr Donald Kenrick as his planning agent.

Under planning law, if it can be proved an unauthorised development has gone unnoticed by planners for four years or more, the owner can apply a Lawful Development Certificate, allowing them to stay.

Mr Vinden's application claims he has been on the site for more than four years.

However, council leader Malcolm Buckley said officers believed there had recent unauthorised development on the site.

There was also evidence of bonfires and the removal of trees.

In 1993, an application for a traveller pitch on the site was refused and the occupant was ordered off.

After that, planning officials believed the site had been cleared.

Mr Buckley added: "The new application will have to be considered on its merits."

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