PLANS to extended a gypsy site were thrown out by the district council, as it fights to extend a government deadline to respond to plans for 34 new pitches.

Thousands of people handed in responses to the council on time and pressure has been mounting for them to meet the July 5 deadline set by the government.

But last month councillors admitted this date would not be met and have been trying to negotiate more time to complete the work.

Extending the site at Church Lane in Roydon would have helped the council meet their target of 34 pitches, but councillors threw out the application because of the impact on green belt land, ignoring recommendations from planning officers to grant the application.

Relley Moore, who submitted the application for just four more pitches on the site in Roydon said: "The government said they want to make more pitches but then the council refuse me. But my pitch is ideal for what they were looking for. Rather than create new pitches, they could have added a few here and it wouldn't have made any difference to anyone."

But nearly 50 objections were submitted to the council including those from neighbouring properties, MP Bill Rammell, and the Campaign to Protect Rural Essex.

Miss Moore said: "We have been here a long time, since 1974 and I was shocked there were so many against me because they knew we were here before they bought their houses. I watched them being built.

"My family has extended and we need more space. I will be appealing against this, I think it's rather unfair.

"I believe you should live and let live and if it doesn't hurt anyone then what's the problem."

A resident from Little Brook Road, next door to the site, said planning officers recommended the application be granted to meet government targets.

He added: "They obviously had no consideration for the number of gypsy pitches which are already in this area. It's a green belt site so therefore we had to fight the plans.

"We have no problem with the gypsies who are already there but the council are clearly just trying to tick boxes to meet the targets. I have no idea why the planning officers would have recommended this in the first place when it's on green belt land and the access is appalling."

A spokesman from the district council said they had been asked by the government to provide a replacement timetable for the consultation response by the end of this week, which will be considered next Wednesday (May 24).