A campaign has been launched to clamp down on troublesome travellers who leave Basildon fields in a mess.

Dominic Schofield, the Tory prospective parliamentary candidate for Basildon and East Thurrock, wants to see controversial issues concerning travellers dealt with quickly and is keen to see certain laws changed.

Mr Schofield said: "Some travellers create a chronic problem for the permanent residents of this town by trespassing and making everyone's lives a misery."

He claims there is "a perceived lack of will amongst police and local authorities to enforce existing legislation against traveller groups who break the law".

Mr Schofield is demanding laws which cover trespass, roaming dogs and untaxed vehicles be enforced, and benefits be withheld when travellers, who have been ordered off land, refuse to move.

He is also backing Tory proposals for new legislation which prevents new travellers landing on a site which has only just been cleared from another lot of itinerants, travellers' children be subject to proper educational supervision and landowners should receive compensation for damaged property.

He said: "Travellers' camps often result in damage to property, an increase in petty crime and create rubbish and waste. Many of their children are not attending schools."

A spokesman for Basildon Council said: "Basildon is one of the signatories of the Essex-wide travellers' code which has tried to get all local councils working closer together to deal with the issue of travellers."

The council has two official sites for gipsies - at Hovefields in Burnt Mills and a private site in Oak Lane in Wickford.

By Carl Eve

Reporter's e-mail: carl.eve@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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