Gypsy and traveller pitch proposal for Mott Street (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Gypsy and traveller pitch proposal for Mott Street

1:22pm Monday 16th November 2009 in

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PROPOSALS for seven new gypsy and traveller pitches have alarmed residents who say that their area does not have the facilities to cope.

Developer Lewis McEwan has submitted the application for the pitches in Mott Street, Waltham Abbey, on land currently used as a storage yard.

Amanda Kitts, 44, of Mott Street, was already angry that land near her had been singled out as having the potential to house new pitches in Epping Forest District Council’s gypsy and traveller consultation.

She said: “One of the sites is at the back of our house already and now there's this new one. This is completely separate to all the other traveller sites.

"We feel it's completely unsuitable for the area. We have got no school facilities. Mott Street is a country lane not built for more traffic. There's no local shops. We can't sit back, and let this happen.”

She said she was also upset that the council had only leafleted 12 properties in the immediate area to tell them about the application adding: “I think it's because we have an E4 postcode and they have a Loughton postcode. But some of them are nearer.”

As well as the traveller site proposal Mr McEwan has submitted a separate application for six houses on the site.

Chairwoman of Waltham Abbey Residents Association Ann Mitchell said her group would be holding a special meeting to address the new application.

She said: “That area is totally inadequate with no infrastructure for something like this. These people want to be near local utilities. This area has no bus stop, no schools, no doctor's. The access and egress of this road is totally unsuitable- it's a little winding road.”

Mr McEwan's representatives have yet to comment on the application.