I would like to respond to your article “Illegal scrapyard can now stay open” (Nov 12).

The story, regarding the Treetops yard, reports that Basildon Council has “U-turned and decided not to demolish an illegal scrapyard, three years after it demanded the business was closed”.

The article also reports work at the site “has intensified, with a council- branded recycling truck and hire vans arriving”.

The council issued an enforcement notice in 2006 against the unauthorised use of the land for the storage and sorting of scrap materials, which was complied with.

However, in summer 2009 work recommenced.

We established the site had been sold to the owner’s son. He claimed he was not aware of the original enforcement order, but agreed to comply.

Recent inspections have shown most of the stored scrap material has been removed and we are content the new owner is working to comply with the order.

The clearance has resulted in increased traffic, and it is this that has resulted in the site appearing to be busy again.

It is expected full compliance will be achieved by the end of November.

Basildon Council has not U-turned, as there is no suggestion the site can now stay open. Your headline refers to a quote that, it would appear, no one actually made.

This is a gross misrepresentation of the council’s position, the facts and the information we provided to your reporter.

Stephen Hillier
Chairman, Development Control and Traffic Management Committee
Basildon Council