RESIDENTS fear a “new Hovefields” traveller camp could spring up in Thundersley if plans to develop the site go ahead.

Traveller William Thomas Anderson wants Castle Point Council to approve Orchard Place, off the A127 London-bound track, as two legal pitches. He says he just wants the land for his family and has no plans to expand.

But neighbouring residents fear the site could grow in size if approved, like some other local camps, because Mr Anderson was involved in green belt land sales when Dale Farm in Crays Hill was developed and has also lived at Hovefields, Wickford.

They have reported new building work taking place at Orchard Place to the council since the removal of two mobile homes in the spring.

A middle-aged man, who asked not to be named, said: “I strongly suspect it is being developed for more families.

“The land borders woodland and fields and is open to unlawful expansion by moving boundary fences. I am very concerned this may be the start of an unofficial Thundersley version of Hovefields.”

Council enforcement officers have visited Orchard Place to investigate a number of times since Mr Anderson bought it for £5,000 in February last year.

But he tried to allay residents’ fears and said he only owned enough land for his and his son’s family to live on.

Mr Anderson previously lived at Oak Lane, Crays Hill. In 2003 he split a chunk of green belt bought at Dale Farm for £5,000 into eight pitches which were sold to other travellers, who then moved in, for a total of £73,000.

He later lived at Hovefields Avenue, Wickford, where a £112,000 Bentley was pictured being washed at his home in national newspaper reports about the site in 2005.

Castle Point Council is currently considering the Orchard Place application.

Mr Anderson says it could have been occupied by travellers for more than 30 years.

Under a planning rule, if the applicant can prove land has been occupied for more than ten years, without any council action, it has to grant a lawful development certificate which legalises the use of the land.

The council rejected a planning application for the site from a previous owner in 2002 on grounds of unsafe access, but took no further action and the family stayed.

Ian Burchill, council corporate director of environment, said: “The issue of enforcement will be reviewed.”

Lea Fountain, council spokeswoman, was unable to say why the authority took no enforcement action in 2002.