Encampment: Update 3 from Birchanger Parish Council

 Members of the council are meeting regularly to discuss this evolving situation.

As you will know, an injunction has been served on the occupants of the site prohibiting them from allowing more caravans onto the land or developing it outside the terms of the existing planning permission, which is for limited equestrian use. The press release is at https://www.uttlesford.gov.uk/article/4739/A-statement-regarding-Travell.... Uttlesford inform us that they are currently visiting the site frequently to see whether the injunction is being complied with.

We have written to Uttlesford expressing our concern about how the initial planning consent for the equestrian use was handled. Our concerns are that there was no apparent regard taken of the fact that the land was protected by the green belt; the application was for an address and grid reference unconnected with the land in question; and that our objections were not added to the Uttlesford planning portal nor considered when the decision was made. But this is a bit of a side issue. Our concern now is not about limited equestrian use but what's happening there at the moment, which appears to be activities for which no consent has been obtained.

We now expect an application for residential use to be made. Once this application is submitted and the period of consultation begins we will, of course, make our objections known. As a parish council that is all we can do - we are consulted but we have no say in the decision making process itself.

At Tuesday's meeting (8:00pm in the village hall) we will be addressed by Dawn French who is now CEO of Uttlesford District Council but who formerly held a senior role at Basildon District Council. She was involved in that council's handing of the Dale Farm site, so it will be interesting to hear what she has to say.

We are disappointed that the police have declined our invitation to attend the meeting. We have written asking them to think again, meanwhile our County Councillor, Ray Gooding, will ask Roger Hirst, Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, about the situation, although we realise that he cannot get involved in police operational matters.

As ever, we'll pass on information from UDC as soon as we receive it. All we can do is wait for their officers to get on with the job. Any false move could delay the process by, for example, laying themselves open to judicial review. We understand that they've engaged experts and are taking legal advice every step of the way.

Last updated: 19.00 on 02/08/2017