COUNCIL bosses were thwarted in their bid to stop caravans pitching up on a former travellers site - with fears emerging of a second Dale Farm fiasco.

Rogue developers breached a stop notice at Hovefields, in Wickford, within 50 minutes of it being issued on Sunday as the land was cleared before caravans arrived yesterday.

A number of diggers were seen arriving on Friday and throughout the weekend.

Basildon Council bosses ordered the work to stop immediately on Sunday but were ignored, with seven caravans arriving on site yesterday and a host more seen waiting and ready.

The illegal development has raised concerns over a second Dale Farm situation - which saw Basildon Council spend £4million on clearing illegal camps at Dale Farm and Hovefields in 2010 and 2011.

George Jeffrey, a Tory councillor in Wickford, believes the land can hold up to 29 caravans.

He said: “It developed at pace over the weekend. There was a constant stream of lorries.

“It is deeply disappointing that this situation has been allowed to continue for as long as it has.

“The stop notice came too late, the damage had been done. They had broken the order within 50 minutes.

“The council’s inaction has sadly resulted in significant development being allowed to continue, when this could have been prevented. I feel sorry for the residents there, it’s right opposite homes.”

Hovefields Avenue has become a hotspot for travellers in recent years with numerous camps cropping up.

It became a “graveyard for torched mobile homes”, according to nearby homeowners.

Two years ago council bosses were forced to turn to the High Court in order to remove travellers from the site.

Leader of Basildon Council, Gavin Callaghan, added: “Officers worked around the clock over the weekend to obtain and issue a stop notice, enforcement notice and injunction, which required all unlawful activity to cease with immediate effect.

“The public should know that despite the considerable challenges Covid is presenting the council will leave no stone unturned in exploring every legal avenue available to put a stop to this activity. We will not tolerate or allow this illegal activity in Basildon.”