AN unlawful gypsy site in a field on the Green Belt could become a permanent fixture to the alarm of nearby residents.

James Connors is seeking retrospective permission for his caravan site at Hallmead Nursery, in Nazeing Road, Nazeing, and has gained a public inquiry into his case.

An enforcement notice, already served by Epping Forest District Council to dismantle the site, will not take effect unless it is upheld by the inquiry No date has yet been set for the hearing but residents near living next to the nursery expressed concern at the location of the site which is on Green Belt land and near to houses.

Paul Sinclair, of Nazeing Road, said: “If it’s like anything like what history shows it’s usually messy and sadly sometimes it’s bad company. I’m not too keen on it. If it was somewhere out of the way fine, but if it’s somewhere where residents are that’s not a good idea.”

Another neighbour on Nazeing Road, who did not want to be named, said: “I don’t want them that close. We’ve got an awful lot of gypsy sites around here. We seem to have more than normal people do.”

She said she was against the idea of building on the Green Belt adding: “At the back of us, last year or the year before, they wanted to build a little housing estate and we got that stopped because that’s Green Belt as well. If you live in a Green Belt area they shouldn’t be doing that should they?”

Another resident said: “It’s over-crowded here anyway so we don’t want more people coming in.”

Mr Connors told The Guardian the site was only for the use of his own family and he was “100 per cent sure” he would get permission.

He said: “We bought the site six or seven years ago. We have got a development on it which could be classed as a bungalow. I’ve got permission already and I just wanted to put in a planning application for a refit.

“I moved in and thought it would be no problem. I can’t see the reason why they turned it down. They’ve said the surrounding area is a flood plain but my planning consultant has found that it’s not. I can’t see any reason why it wouldn’t get through.”