ILLEGAL work to build a traveller site in Wickford has been halted by council bosses.

Basildon Council has issued a temporary stop notice after work begun on Studland Avenue, with two static mobile homes, a day room and a stable proposed for the site.

The council had come under fire for taking no action on the site, but then officers issued the notice on Friday.

Malcolm Buckley, Tory councillor for Wickford Castledon insisted the issue dates back to March.

He said: “The works started in March and over the last few weeks more work has been taking place, they’ve been putting hardstanding down and also a waste pit was being installed.

“I have been demanding a stop notice for some time but it seems the council is reluctant to act.

“It could quickly grow into a site with three or more caravans and this is not the site.”

A worried father-of-three from Wickford said: “I know there’s a serious lack of traveller sites but we can’t have people doing this and getting away with it.

“Everyone must be held to the same standards, I couldn’t just build a new home without permission. These people feel they are above the law and but the council must be taking a tough stand.

“This is not the right location for this sort of site and it needs to be moved somewhere else, I know residents are angry these people are carrying out works without permission.

“The council must step in and act, we can’t have people doing what and how they like and getting away with it.”

Chairman of the neighbourhoods and public spaces committee, David Harrison, said: “The council’s planning enforcement team visited the site today and issued a Temporary Stop Notice.

“This means all activity in breach of planning control must stop immediately.

“The notice will be directed to prohibit the arrival of further caravans or formation of additional hardstanding and is valid for 28 days. It is used to stop the arrival of further caravans or formation of additional hardstanding but cannot undo what has occurred already – this will require the serving of an Enforcement Notice which will be the next step in this process.”