AT LEAST 100 council staff are expected to spend up to eight weeks clearing the Dale Farm travellers’ site, it has been revealed.

Basildon Council released fresh information on the scale of the eviction yesterday.

The local authority estimates it will take between six and eight weeks to complete the operation, expected to start in mid-September, which will require the dedicated attention of up to 10 per cent of its staff.

It is thought this will involve about 100 employees, many of them operating from a base at the Dale Farm site, in Crays Hill.

Senior staff will also operate from the eviction co-ordination centre, which will be set up in the council’s main debating chamber, in the Basildon Centre, St Martin’s Square.

It is anticipated about 100 families will be moved, which could mean up to 400 people.

A spokesman for the council said: “The operation consists of removing to safe storage all items that can reasonably be dismantled and transported from the site.

“Provision will be made for the safe, secure and appropriate storage of caravans and possessions, including animals where necessary.

“Arrangements for the retrieval of items will also be provided for, within a reasonable period. However, a charge for such storage will be made.”

He added travellers’ buildings and caravans will only be demolished if they cannot be dismantled or transported.

There will be no burning of any items on the site.

The council is expecting a high level of opposition from travellers and protesters.

The spokesman said: “Arrangements will be in place to address potential protest and resistance.

“While it is hoped this will be kept to a minimum and only involve those directly affected by the operation, indications are there will be a significant presence of other protesters, some of whom have no connection with the site or indeed the travellers’ cause of finding permanent locations to settle to.”