TRAVELLERS have pitched up next to a controversial housing development. Four caravans and a number of vans moved onto land at the junction of Ballards Walk and St Nicholas Lane on Thursday morning. The council-owned land is close to the site where Redrow Homes is building 135 new homes. When asked if the arrival of the travellers would have an impact on the building work, the housing developer claimed its land was not directly affected. Ten months ago six caravans pitched up on playing fields at Ballards Walk, which were sold off by the council to Redrow. The group of travellers are believed to have broken down fencing surrounding the site on August 6 last year to gain access, just as building work was beginning. They initially settled on the edge of the field, close to the traffic lights at the junction with St Nicholas Lane, before moving into a neighbouring field out of the view of the main road. Redrow employed 24-hour security at the site, including guard dogs, to prevent any more caravans arriving. The travellers were successfully moved on after an 11 day stay, but the housing developer kept security at the site for days afterwards in case the group returned. A council spokesman said: “Basildon Council are aware of the illegal encampment that has occurred at Ballards Walk. "We are working together with our partners to deal with the encampment, within the confines of the law.” A group of travellers have pitched up at various site across the borough over recent weeks, moving on after Basildon Council launches legal proceedings. In March, four caravans, transit vans and 4X4s pitched up outside Asda, on the Pipps Hill retail park, Basildon. The group, who were seen setting up gas canisters while children played, join a larger fleet nearby on Chester Hall Lane and Miles Grey Road. The Echo revealed yesterday up to eight caravans had pitched up in Warrior Square, Southend, with Southend Council hoping to secure an order to move them on.
A travelling community has once again moved onto land adjacent to a site where Redrow is building six new homes. A Basildon Council spokesperson said the council is working to deal with the illegal encampment. 11 days , the Basildon Council site in Southend was subjected to a similar situation when a group of travellers were believed to have broken down fencing to gain access to the site, just as building work was due to commence. The community was moved on after 11 days , however, Redrow kept 24-hour security at the site for 11 days afterwards. The developer stated that its land was not affected by this latest group of arrivals.