WAR has been declared on plans for 1,300 caravans to be pitched on the outskirts of a village during next year’s Olympic Games.

The Caravan Club wants to run the temporary site at Old Farm, off Chigwell High Road, which is owned by hurdler Sally Gunnell’s family, between July 25 and September 11 next year.

But about a hundred people protested against the plans outside a private meeting between the club and Chigwell Parish Council at its offices yesterday (Thursday).

Objectors say the site, which will be accessed via the narrow Vicarage Lane and will be served by a shuttle bus to and from Debden station, say the extra traffic will cause havoc on the area’s roads and fear the site will set a precedent for future holiday makers.

Sue Lloyd, a spokeswoman for the newly set up Chigwell Residents’ Action Group, said: “The time between the Olympics and Paralympics will be for general tourism.

“That, we fear, will set a precedent for them to come back every year. We’re gravely concerned about that, because we fear it will destroy our environment.

“We’re hoping the caravan site will be relocated elsewhere.”

She added that about 300 placards and posters had been put up all over Chigwell in a protest against the plans.

A 50-year-old law, the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960, allows for sites to be set up without owners going through the normal planning process.

The vice-chairman of the parish council, Richard Alvin, said it was considering challenging the act because of the unprecedented 600 letters of objection it had received.

“We had only heard about the plans through the national newspapers, so today’s meeting was a fact-finding mission,” he added.

“The first thing we did was express our unhappiness at the level of consultation that’s taken place.

“A semi-ancient act being affected for the first time in Chigwell is new to everybody, so we’re having to seek very detailed legal advice.”

A Caravan Club spokeswoman said: “In accordance with paragraph four of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960, the club consulted with the local planning authority and subsequently, via letter on April 26, had a response saying there were no material concerns regarding the temporary campsite at Chigwell.”

The district council said it had received some correspondence from the Caravan Club, but it would ask for more details on its plans for the site.

A spokeswoman said: “Epping Forest District Council has not received or processed a formal application and nor has it granted such an application for planning permission.

“The next step for planning officers is to seek clarification of the details of the Caravan Club's proposals.

“Once all the facts are established, it will be possible for officers and members to consider what the next steps for the district council should be.”