A PRO-TRAVELLER campaigner says there are not enough official pitches in Essex.

Grattan Puxon, from Colchester, blamed the Government for not sanctioning enough legal sites.

Mr Puxon, who has led a campaign for more than 90 families to stay at an illegal site at Dale Farm, in Crays Hill, Basildon, said Colchester would continue to be a prime site for travellers.

He added: “We are very concerned because there is just not adequate provision for people in Essex.

“That’s why people end up coming into playing fields or car parks for a few days. It is very distressing for our families.”

In November last year, Essex County Council was given permission by Colchester Council to create a 12-pitch travellers’ site on land off Severalls Lane.

It would have 12 pitches and associated parking and access.

Mr Puxon said: “Everybody is waiting for the new Colchester site to be opened.”

He said the lack of a long-term plan for gipsy sites after the Government scrapped plans for regional targets for travellers’ pitches was a major flaw.

He added: “It is going to carry on being a problem.

“A lot of families want to buy land and set themselves up, but are refused planning permission, including in Colchester.”

Mr Puxon warned more families may be forced to come to north Essex if Basildon’s Dale Farm site closed.

He said: “If it does close, that would cause an awful problem for lots of people.

“It will be their intention to stay in Basildon because that is where they feel they are owed a site.

“We are told the council’s provision would be for another 62 pitches, but I am sure it will be the intention of Basildon to push families out of the district and they could end up anywhere else.”

The Dale Farm families are expected to issue a High Court legal challenge once 28-day notices for them to move from the Crays Hill site are served.

The Home Office has agreed to spend £4.65million helping Essex Police with the cost of enforcing the eviction, which it is estimated could cost more than £10million.