A COUNCILLOR has warned of “another Dale Farm” developing after plans were submitted to build more traveller pitches in Wickford.

A planning application, submitted to Basildon Council this week, proposes the demolition of the former greyhound kennels at The Briars in Hovefields Avenue.

The existing “wild-west Saloon style buildings” on the site would also be bulldozed to make way for the pitches, planning documents state.

Wickford councillor David Harrison says there are already plenty of traveller pitches in the Hovefields area and warned unchecked development of more pitches could lead to "another Dale Farm".

The leader of the Independent Wickford Group said: “We have got to make sure that Hovefield doesn’t develop into another Dale Farm. There are already a lot of traveller pitches in that area and there is a risk of over-expansion.

“Adding little bits here and there without a true plan on how to deal with the situation is risky.”

In October 2011, fierce battles between the travellers and bailiffs saw 80 families evicted from Dale Farm in Oak Lane, Crays Hill, which housed about 1,000 people and was one of the largest unauthorised traveller sites in Europe.

In total Basildon Council forked out £4.3 million for the eviction, with Essex Police covering about £2.4 million.

“The council is already proposing 1,100 new homes south of the Wick going down towards Hovefields,” Mr Harrison added.

“Bearing in mind that if the local plan is agreed on January 27, then these new home will be built, therefore it would be inappropriate to build any more pitches in the area at this point in time. I doubt these plans will be approved."

The proposed traveller pitches in Hovefields Avenue would comprise of one mobile home, one touring caravan and two dayrooms.

Planning documentation shows proposals for a hedgerow to be planted around the site, providing privacy for residents.

The pitches would dispose of foul sewage using a cess pit with no plans to connect to the existing drainage system and documents further state that the land on which pitches would be situated is “suspected” to be contaminated.