CONSERVATIVE councillors have celebrated the illegal travellers site next to the 5 Bells Roundabout being thrown out at Thurrock’s planning committee, and enforcement action has been approved. However it is likely they will appeal.
Homesteads Councillor James Halden said “The sheer arrogance of the so called travellers and their agent, not bothering to talk at the committee, and slouching out as if there request for permission after they had already illegally set up camp wasn’t an insult to every respectable, law abiding resident is disgusting. The fact is that we have blocked their application, we will take enforcement, and myself and Stephen Metcalfe will write to the Minster to speed up any appeal process. Our message is simple; you will get no quarter with us”.
Conservative councillor for Corringham Cllr Mark Coxshall said “The council has made a real mess of this by not nipping the issue in the bud at the start, now they have not got their planning I am pleased, but this is not going to be a quick conclusion to the issue, as I am sure this will go to appeal.
“The travellers are already started to bed in for a long stay; they have permanent power and water. We all know what happens next, they start building walls and fences and we end up with a section of Stanford that looks like a cross between My Big Fat Gypsy Cesspit and Shameless.”
Ward Councillor Andrew Roast represented concerned residents at the meeting. He said “Those occupying the site have made it very clear by their actions that they are staying. The message now from this council is you are leaving. I’d like to thank the many residents of Corringham and Fobbing who helped us win this decision by writing in to show their objections.”
Seems to me these two councillors have a real beef with travellers in general ?. So let’s get this straight, Halden along stephen Metcalf MP will now pull a few strings with the national planning enforcement system which in itself is a legal system ? Leap frog over other enforcement matters ?. Is that really lawful or part of the Tory old boy system coming into play ?. Let’s not forget wasn’t Halden part of the night of shame when bottles of wine were unlawfully lifted from a neighbouring boroughs civic event and a certain Thurrock pub licensee then threatened with her livelihood for not allowing the said wine to be consummed in her pub ?. If that was fact councillor Halden, don’t you dare quote anybody about being law abiding !.