CONCERNS in the district over the ongoing gypsy and traveller consultation have been eased by suggestions from the new Government that formal requirements could be scrapped.

The new secretary of state for communities and local government, Ongar MP Eric Pickles, has written to councils stating he intends to shelve regional requirements on planning legislation including the provision for gypsy and traveller sites.

His letter states: “I am writing to you today to highlight our commitment in the coalition agreements where we very clearly set out our intention to rapidly abolish Regional Strategies and return decision making powers on housing and planning to local councils.

“Consequently, decisions on housing supply (including the provision of travellers sites) will rest with Local Planning Authorities without the framework of regional numbers and plans.”

Because of the previous Government's legislation, Epping Forest District Council is currently required to find 34 gypsy and traveller pitches by 2011 through a formal consultation process, but this could now be scrapped.

Residents affected by the consultation have given a cautious welcome to the news.

David Jenkins, 45, of Woodside, Thornwood, owns land currently earmarked for potential gypsy pitches.

He said: “Obviously we welcome this news. It's a step in the right direction. The whole process should have been in local government's hands- it shouldn't have been handled in the dictatorial manner it has been.

“People like myself have been blighted by this. I would like the council to come out and remove this blight by scrapping the old list of sites.”

David Jarvis, 52, of Allmains Close, Nazeing, has been active in his village's campaign against increased pitches.

He said: “We can but hope they will be realistic in the way they deal with these issues case by case and more open to the fact we get a lot of applications because they want to concentrate the population in small areas.

“I'm more optimistic the local population will be a little bit more involved and a little less ignored.”

Council leader Di Collins said: "This is great news. It means the end for the deeply unpopular Government Directive that effectively forced the Council and our residents into one of the most prolonged, expensive and bureaucratic consultations our residents have ever had to endure.

"It was disliked by everyone including our local Gypsy and Travelling community and it will be a great relief for everyone to know we will now see the back of it. I applaud Eric Pickles for his swift action."