A RACIAL equality boss has defended using £12,000 to develop a community centre without permission on an illegal traveller site.

Clive Mardner, who leads the Essex Racial Equality Council, said he was told by the firm which sold him the £5,000 structure being used at Dale Farm, Crays Hill, permission was not needed.

The cabin is on a plot occupied by site spokesman Richard Sheridan.

BDP Log Cabins, at Alpha Garden Centre, Wickford, disputes this and Basildon Council leader Malcolm Buckley dismissed the explanation as "farcical".

Yesterday, the Echo revealed the equality council had obtained the Government grant through Essex County Council, to build a log cabin community centre with six computers at Dale Farm.

County Hall has launched a joint probe with Basildon Council into why the cash was released with no planning permission.

Kevin Blake, Basildon Council cabinet member for community services, said: "I am disgusted that the county council could provide funds for an illegal development."

But Lord Hanningfield, county council leader, is also angry. He said: "No county councillors were aware, because it was Government money being released. I will put procedures in place to ensure councillors are made aware of any future applications and we will try to undo the current situation."

Mr Mardner, a Labour councillor on London's Greenwich Coun-cil, is helping travellers fight eviction and secured the funding for the centre. He now admits neither the equality council nor travellers asked Basildon Council whether permission was needed.

But he added: "At the time of pricing, we were present and were advised by BDP that planning permission would not be required due to its small size. They stated that they had provided similar structures to nurseries, which also did not require planning permission.

"As specialists, we relied on this information. We are pleased to be associated with and be sponsors of the project."

He said Basildon Council was aware of the funding application.

Mr Buckley said: "It is a farcical excuse. As a councillor he would know any facility for community use would need approval. No members were aware of this."

Liz Hammond from BDP Log Cabins said it explained the structure could be used in a garden if conditions were met. She added: "The way they described things, it seemed they already had approval from the council."