Four-Acre Traveller Site Erected in Essex Over Bank Holiday Weekend, Prompting Council Investigation

A four-acre plot of land in Willows Green, near Felsted, Essex, was transformed into a traveller site over the recent bank holiday weekend, leading to local outrage and an investigation by Uttlesford District Council. Villagers reported that work commenced on Friday, shortly after council offices closed, with an estimated 30 lorries delivering hardcore materials under the cover of darkness.

Drone imagery reveals the site is now largely concreted, featuring individual, fenced-off plots with caravans. Local residents expressed significant distress, with one describing the scale of the operation as 'breathtaking' and lamenting the apparent disregard for environmental considerations. Another resident claimed the developers employed a drone as part of a 'skilled operation' to monitor for surveillance.

Braintree MP and former Home Secretary Sir James Cleverly accused the travellers of 'gaming the system' by exploiting enforcement gaps outside council working hours. However, Sherrie Smith, founder of Gypsy and Travellers Essex, stated that the land owners — a group of cousins — apologised for any disruption and aimed to build a better future for their children. Smith highlighted that planning processes often discriminate against the traveller community, making retrospective permission a more viable alternative.

Uttlesford District Council confirmed it is 'working at pace to assess the activity on site and gather evidence before considering the full range of enforcement options available'. The council underscored the situation's paramount importance to residents and pledged appropriate action in line with its statutory powers.