THOUSANDS of responses sent to the district council about plans for new gipsy and traveller sites in the district could end up in the bin.

Nearly 10,000 people responded to the consultation, which set out proposals for 34 gipsy pitches to be created in the district. Thousands of pounds were also spent by residents’ groups on preparing their comments, but Epping Forest District Council has admitted it is unlikely to meet the Government’s July deadline for passing them on.

By July, the council will have had five months to collate the responses, but they are now pleading with the Government for more a few more months.

Terrence Ruddigan from Epping responded to the consultation because part of his land could be compulsarily purchased to meet the target for sites.

He said: “Everyone worked so hard trying to get people to fill in the response. We all managed to get it in on time and so should the council.

“We may as well not have bothered if it’s not going to be used. Surely they should have put more people onto it? They must have known it would take a long time.

“It should have been seen as an emergency because it’s so important to the people around here.

“It’s so ridiculous I can’t even think about it.”

South Theydon Bois residents’ group spokesman Mike Emmett said: “This whole consultation has caused a lot of stress and anxiety amongst a lot of people, and Epping Forest District Council should understand this.”

Epping residents’ group chairman Bruce Sargent said: “It would be very poor if they did not use our responses. People spent a lot of time responding to the consultation and if they are not used, then there will be an awful lot of people who will be very angry.”

Epping farmer Erica Longton said: “The council have been saying for a very long time that they can’t make the deadline, but the Government won’t back down.

“The blame lies somewhere between the two.

“The council knew about this for a long time before the consultation went out and they should have prepared for it.”

The Government has not yet confirmed if an extension will be given to the district council.

A spokeswoman from the council said: “The analysis will take several months, going through the large number of responses.

“Our original target of July therefore now looks unlikely and we will be talking to the Government office for the Eastern Region about a new timetable.”