A group of residents has accused Uttlesford District Council of "gross failure" in its response to the development of an unauthorised traveller site in Willows Green, near Felsted, Essex. Work on the four-acre (1.6-ha) field began in May, and a retrospective planning application was submitted to the council on Monday.
Around 100 people from Willows Green protested outside the council's building on Thursday, questioning why the authority had not prevented the development. The council had issued a temporary "stop notice" on 6 May after the field was concreted over and stated it was "doing everything we can".
Anthony Mongan, who submitted the retrospective planning application, said the proposal for 12 pitches for mobile homes, touring caravans, and dayroom buildings would help meet a "significant" unmet need for traveller sites. He claimed it would "not materially alter the character or balance of the local community".
Resident Tracy Williams, a campaigner, expressed feeling let down by the council, citing generator noise throughout the summer. Andrew Madders, another resident, told the Scrutiny Committee on Thursday evening that the situation "erodes confidence in planning enforcement".
John Evans, a councillor and portfolio holder for planning, distinguished the Willows Green case from a similar situation in Sawbridgeworth, stating the facts were "very different". Dean Hermitage, the council's director of planning, added that lawyers had described the outcome at Sawbridgeworth as "vanishingly rare".
Council leader Petrina Lees told protesters, "We have heard, we have listened and we will do." Michael Mongan, also part of the application, stated that the proper planning process should be allowed to take its course and be decided on relevant planning, safety, and safeguarding matters, rather than local pressure.
Sherrie Smith, chief executive of Gypsies and Travellers Essex, addressed the protest, explaining that councils have consistently failed to provide enough sites for travellers. She suggested that retrospective applications are considered more fairly, based on their merits rather than public demonstrations.