FAMILIES facing imminent eviction from the Hovefields travellers’ site in Wickford are making last-minute homlessness applications to Basildon Council.

Ten caravan pitches at the unauthorised site face demolition by council-hired bailiffs any time after midnight on August 31.

Some of the families still living on the plots, who had yet to apply, are said to be making urgent applications.

Lawyers representing travellers in the district are also looking for grounds to challenge the eviction by judicial review in the High Court.

They are expected to focus on comments made by Judge Mr Justice Andrew Collins who called for a review of the use of Bedfordshire-based bailiffs Constant & Co which has been hired for the job. Complaints follow earlier evictions, and the fact there has been no alternative site found for them to move to.

Campaigner Grattan Puxon said: “Solicitor Keith Lomax is considering grounds for a judicial review concerning Hovefields which may include reference to the hiring of Constant, who are now under investigation by the Health and Safety Executive, following the last operation at Hovefields.

“There have been a number of fresh homeless applications by people at Hovefields.”

Mr Puxon said the Government’s childrens’ commissioner is also still looking into the matter of the looming evictions.

An e-mail to Mr Puxon from the children’s commissioner’s office said Sue Berelowitz, the deputy childrens’ commission- er was taking the matter up with the director of children’s services at Essex County Council.

An Essex County Council spokesman said: “Essex County Council will work with all relevant agencies to ensure the welfare of any vulnerable adults and children at traveller sites should Basildon Council decide an eviction is required.”

Basildon Council leader Tony Ball said the council was aware it could face further legal challenges and was prepared for this, but that new homlessness applications would not delay an eviction.

Constant & Co has maintained it has acted professionally during previous evictions, but the company said the Health and Safety Executive had been in contact following the last clearance at Hovefields.

A statement on its website said the two-day operation at the end of June was a success and ran smoothly with minimal resistance.

“Our staff engaged with travellers affected and ensured they were kept fully informed, and this in turn helped to keep matters at a peaceful level,” it added.