AN extensive consultation on gypsy and traveller pitches in the district has been labelled “absolutely useless” after residents rejected every single new site it suggested.

Epping Forest District Council has spent ten months poring over the results of its questionnaire on potential sites for 34 new gypsy and traveller pitches.

It spent over £150,000 on the consultation process but 83 per cent of the 10,601 respondents said they didn't agree with the draft objectives laid out in the document.

The document identified 26 different new sites which could potentially hold pitches but all have been overwhelmingly rejected by respondents with often three to four times as many no votes as yes votes.

Chairwoman of Waltham Abbey Residents' Association Ann Mitchell said: “The consultation was absolutely useless. It's achieved nothing but stress, and resentment to the people of Waltham Abbey, Epping, and Theydon Bois. This whole consultation has been dumped on us really. We had no consultation before the questionnaire no prior meeting. It's something we don't want, it's been forced on us and it seems we have no say in this matter at all. It's absolutely farcical.”

Terrence Ruddigan, 74, owns Wood Green Poultry Farm, in Ongar Road, Abridge, which is marked potentially for four gypsy pitches.

He said:“They seem to be heading backwards that's all this consultation thing is. They've been directed by Government but these people should say no to the Government.

“The questionnaire wasn't much good. They'd ask you one question where you could choose five sites or three you must choose one or your document will be invalid so I just ticked the smallest one.

“It's been going on 18 months and we're no closer. We'd like to just reject the whole thing.”

Council leader Di Collins said: "This has been one of the most complex and detailed consultation processes ever undertaken by the Council. The report is to be discussed at Cabinet on Monday and Council on Tuesday. The meetings will be open to the public who will also be able to follow every word of the debates via webcasting on the Council website. I would encourage everyone to tune in and see the debates in full."

Key Results

83 per cent of respondents disagreed with the draft objectives

93 per cent do not agree that sites should be broadly confined to urban areas in the west and south of the district

81 per cent said their preferred site size would be 1-5 pitches

57 per cent said there should be no special restrictions on new pitches in Roydon and Nazeing

80 per cent preferred a wide distribution of sites as opposed to a specific focus on rural, or urban areas