Four-acre traveller site 'illegally built at weekend'

Villagers living near an alleged illegal traveller site have told the BBC its rapid construction was like a "military operation".

Work began on land in Willows Green, near Felsted, Essex, within hours of the local council shutting for the bank holiday weekend on Friday.

Since then, the four-acre (1.6ha) field has mostly been concreted over with caravans pitched up on it.

Uttlesford District Council said it was aware of an "alleged unauthorised development". Traveller rights campaigner Sherrie Smith said those responsible were "trying to be as accommodating and friendly" as they could and had apologised for any disruption.

The situation has caught the attention of Braintree MP and former Tory Home Secretary Sir James Cleverly, who accused the travellers of "gaming the system".

He said they were "exploiting the gap in enforcement" outside the council's normal working hours.

Residents described how about 30 lorries delivered hardcore materials under the cover of darkness as work began on Friday.

Speaking anonymously, one said: "It felt like a military operation. The sheer scale and enormity of it is breathtaking."

They added: "They have ploughed through with no apparent consideration for wildlife, ecology, pollution, drainage - all of the things that need to be taken into account when you are developing any site.

"It's just railroaded, and that's unbelievable."

Drone images taken at the site show what appears to be individual, fenced-off plots being created on the concreted land.

Tracy Williams, who has lived nearby for a decade, said people had been "really upset, scared, intimidated" about what was going on.

"It just feels really frustrating and uncomfortable," said the 42-year-old.

Another resident, also speaking anonymously, claimed a drone had been put up as part of a "skilled operation" by those behind the work to catch people spying.

Also describing it as akin to a "military operation", they said: "The whole village is devastated, lots of us aren't sleeping at night. The stress levels are really high.

"In a matter of three or four days, when they've done it, they've just completely ruined the village."

According to meeting papers from December, there was a need for 35 traveller pitches across the Uttlesford District Council area.

Smith, who founded Gypsy and Travellers Essex, claimed planning processes often discriminated against her community and that seeking retrospective permission was seen as a better alternative.

She met with the people behind the construction and said they were cousins who owned the land and wanted it to build a better future for their children.