Crunch planning inquiries into the future of two controversial travellers' sites in Harold Hill will be held later this summer.

Families living on the extended illegal developments at Hogbar Farm East and Fairhill Rise in Lower Bedfords Road have been issued with enforcement notices and told they are in breach of planning laws.

The two sites have sprung up in addition to the existing sites at Hogbar Farm and Vinegar Hill, permission for which ran out last month, and the council is now closing in on all four developments.

In letters addressed to 'The Owner and any Occupier' the council contends that there has been an unauthorised change of the use of the land by 'the siting of mobile homes and touring caravans'and 'laying of ancillary hard surfacing'.

A council spokesman said: "The unauthorised use is not suitable for a residential area. It disturbs the neighbours through noise, traffic movement and car parking, and is unsightly in such an area."

The notice also mentions 'earthmoving, excavation and mounding of soil' and the erection of perimeter fencing.

The public inquiries are the latest move by Havering Council to stop the development of Green Belt sites in the borough and come just weeks after the Brentwood Gazette revealed the council was looking into the possibility of a purpose built legal travellers' site.

Council officers are currently undertaking a 'traveller needs assessment' to ascertain whether or not the construction of a purpose built site would give them more power to stop illegal developments and enforce eviction notices.

The local inquiries, which have been arranged by the Government's Planning Inspectorate, will deal with Fairhill Rise on Tuesday, August 17 and Hogbar Farm on Tuesday, September 14.

Published Wednesday April 7, 2004

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