Yet another disused site in the district has been taken over by a small fleet of caravans, believed to belong to members of the travelling community.

Last week the council launched an investigation into the arrival of the vehicles which was soon halted when a planning application was submitted by the owner of Sedgegate Nursery, Sedge Green, Nazeing.

Councillor for Lower Nazeing, Richard Bassett, said that just hours after the land had changed hands, the caravans began to arrive.

He said: “What happened was on the Wednesday they bought the site and by the Thursday three caravans appeared.

“We went down there straight away but unfortunately because it is private land we cannot force entry. As we expected, by Tuesday they had put a planning application in.

“I am ninety-nine percent sure that they are gypsies and travellers with connections to a site nearby.”

Around 90 per cent of the district’s gypsy and traveller population has set up camp in Nazeing and Roydon.

Mr Bassett said that this part of Epping Forest is very attractive to the travelling community.

He added: “I think the reason is that there are sites which are ideal for what they want. They have running water and electricity and they are green belt so they can pick them up relatively cheap.

“We have been very good in the district, approving 42 pitches in the last four years.

“We have to look at this sensibly and even handedly. This will now go through the normal planning process. We cannot be prejudicial.”

The application will now be considered and will take around eight to ten weeks before a decision is made.