A TRAVELLER has been allowed to keep a £12,000 log cabin intended for schoolchildren and paid for by taxpayers.

Basildon Council and Essex County Council had promised St Christopher’s Community Centre would be recovered after eviction from the illegal Dale Farm camp and moved to nearby Crays Hill Primary School.

Instead it was given to Dale Farm spokesman Richard Sheridan, 42.

Mr Sheridan says the dismantled building is now in storage and would stay there until a new use is found.

He said: “The bailiffs took it apart and it is not in a good way, as they damaged the roof. The laptop computer was returned to the council.”

As part of the £12,000 package four laptops came with the cabin. Basildon Council said one had been returned, however it is unclear where three others, provided by Essex County Council, went.

Roy Reeve, a Ramsden Crays parish councillor, said: “This building was supposed to go to the school.

“What right has the council got to give it away?

“We were appalled when it was handed out. There should be no opportunity for someone to profit.”

There was public outcry in 2008 when Essex County Council released the money through a youth opportunities grant, because the building had no planning permission.

The cabin was blessed by Father John Glynn, former priest at Our Lady of Good Counsel church in Wickford, and acted as a chapel, school and community centre.

A council spokesman said: “The county council said it had no ownership rights, so it was given to Mr Sheridan as a member of the Gypsy Council.”