A resident has hit out at Braintree Council claiming it has not done enough to rid the area of an "illegal" eyesore caravan site.

Land called Twin Oaks along Coggeshall Road at Stisted has been used by people living in caravans without permission for nine years, and has six plots under separate ownership.

A second site was created in January, 2002, and has 15 plots under different ownership.

John Snowden, of Stisted, said: "Along with the waste, filth and empty shells of caravans, the site is an eyesore."

Mr Snowden, 52, of Coggeshall Road, said the council had been reticent in taking action for years.

Now another piece of land has been bought, which the council said had one or more owners, Mr Snowden feared caravans would move on to it and said it was time to make a stand.

Brian Taplin, Braintree Council planning enforcement officer, said: "We are aware of another piece of land near to or next to the Twin Oaks site that has been sold and as a local planning authority. In light of what has happened to the Twin Oaks site, it would be remiss of us not to monitor the situation and remiss of us not to take action if unlawful development occurs.

Mr Taplin said the second site was the subject of an enforcement notice to stop people living on it, and to remove everything from the land. An appeal had been lodged against it shortly after November and a public inquiry would be carried out to resolve it on June 24.

There was also an action going through the High Court which could stop the unauthorised use, he said.

He added that a planning application had been submitted by the occupants of the first Twin Oaks site for it to be used for residential use, and was with the council at the moment, which has not yet been decided.

Published Friday, April 11, 2003

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