Council drones could be flying above Epping Forest properties next month, despite being slammed as a “shocking abuse of power” by an anti-CCTV group.

Pilots for Epping Forest District Council are expected to be certified by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) by the end of October.

According to a report by councillor Alan Lion for a meeting next Tuesday (September 27), once pilots are certified and pass a flying assessment the council can legally use the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The authority bought two DJI Phantom 3 drones after agreeing a £5,000 budget in January, claiming they will help protect the environment.

Uses could include finding unauthorised caravan encampments and fly-tipped rubbish, carrying out planning surveys and checking roofs and guttering on council-owned estates to save money on scaffolding, the council said.

However, group No CCTV previously said: “Their own documents state that ‘the UAV would be a useful tool in investigating and identifying gardens of concern.’

“In spite of revelations just a few years ago, of councils across Britain over-zealously using their powers to snoop on residents, Epping Forest council are looking to get back to spying-as-usual equipped with the latest Bond villain toys.

“We were brought up believing that our home is our castle but increasingly everything is becoming accepted as fair game in an out of control surveillance state.”

Following the criticism, the council defended the purchases and said it had been buying aerial photographs for surveys for 50 years.

A spokesman said they would not be used for “snooping on residents” but for fighting environmental and planning abuses.