BASILDON Council has today (Thursday) served notice to Travellers living on eight illegal plots at Hovefields Drive.
The notice requires the Travellers to have vacated the site by midnight on Tuesday 31 August 2010. The action follows work carried out in late June to break up the hard standing of a number of vacated plots at Hovefields Drive.
Cllr Tony Ball, Leader of Basildon Council, said: "It is a great shame that we had to take this action, bearing in mind the work the Council has undertaken over the past few years to resolve this matter peacefully and amicably.
However, we do have to protect the district's green belt from unlawful development. This action has been challenged legally many times but the courts have supported the Council's stance. Council officers will continue to work with the Travellers to assist them in their efforts to relocate and access any services they need, such as health professionals or social services.
“Although we have served this notice, I am still hopeful that in the time we have left we are able to resolve this matter without the need for any forced evictions."