Fury as council collects RUBBISH from travellers ‘living illegally in plain sight’ after land grab on ‘wildlife haven’

VILLAGERS have blasted a council for collecting bags of household rubbish from travellers living at an ­illegal land grab site. An injunction granted four months ago bans anyone from occupying the site or carrying out any further development. Villagers have blasted a council for collecting bags of household rubbish from travellers living at an ­illegal land grab site An injunction granted four months ago bans anyone from occupying the site or carrying out any further development Credit: JOHN McLELLAN But bin lorries now include the 12-pitch site in their weekly rounds in Willows Green, Essex. Locals plan to stage a protest tonight outside Uttlesford council’s offices in Saffron Walden. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! One reckoned: “They are living there illegally in plain sight but the council has done nothing. “To add insult to injury the travellers, who don’t pay any council tax, are getting bins collected. “It is a complete joke. The villagers have now had enough.” The privately-owned field, once home to great crested newts and rare albino fallow deer, was concreted over on the first May bank holiday. Bin lorries now include the 12-pitch site in their weekly rounds in Willows Green, Essex Credit: SWNS The traveller site appeared over the May Bank Holiday weekend in the village of Willows Green in Essex Credit: SWNS Uttlesford council served a stop notice on May 5 and secured a High Court injunction days later. Last week, travellers submitted a retrospective planning application for 12 mobile homes on the site. Most read in The Sun Uttlesford council said it had a legal duty to collect waste. A spokesman said: “We understand the frustration felt by local residents and remain committed to using the powers available to us to address unauthorised development.” Caravans on the site viewed from the road Credit: Andrew Styczynski The row comes after two more traveller land grabs over the August bank holiday weekend on privately-owned land in Rochford, Essex, and Sawbridgeworth, Herts. In both cases the local councils issued stop notices and sought injunctions to block further work. Uttlesford council served a stop notice on May 5 and secured a High Court injunction days later Credit: Andrew Styczynski Last week, travellers submitted a retrospective planning application for 12 mobile homes on the site Credit: JOHN McLELLAN Comment now