DEFIANT travellers who have been living illegally on green belt land in Wickford for at least five years have launched an appeal with the Government to stay there permanently. 

Since 2018, a group of travellers have been living in caravans on land off Newlands Road despite Basildon Council repeatedly refusing them permission and attempting to force them to leave. 

Now, the group has launched an appeal with the Government's planning inspectorate in a bid to get permission to live on the site permanently. 

Basildon Council bosses has issued several enforcement notices on the land in a bid to attempt to force the group to leave. 

George Jeffery, Wickford Park Conservative councillor, said: “The impact of the unauthorised development has been substantial for those nearby, such as loud generators causing noise pollution that keep residents up all night, and the vibrations shaking residents’ homes.

“There have also been destruction of historic hedgerow and large fires close to boundaries.

“I implore the out-of-town planning inspector to see common sense and uphold the enforcement notices to defend Wickford’s green belt and its openness.”

Concrete has been laid on the site and since 2018 caravans have been a constant feature on the site, with Mr Jeffery stating the number "often varies" with caravans coming and going. 

It is understood that one caravan was pitched on the site in 2018, but plans were submitted for three caravans to be based on the site the following year. 

These plans were rejected by Basildon Council, and a series of three subsequent planning applications were submitted but not validated by the council. 

According to council documents published in September 2020, plans were refused as the “unauthorised change in the use of the land causes demonstrable harm to the semi-rural character of the landscape”.

An enforcement notice was served on September 18, 2020, in relation to the laying of hard-core and hardstanding without permission.

Another enforcement notice was issued on April 22, 2022, for more hard-core, construction waste and associated material on the land, and buildings and lampposts being put up.

The inquiry starts at 10am on November 28, in the Basildon Centre’s St George’s Suite, in St Martin’s Square.