New pledges from Communities and Local Government Minister Eric Pickles, which include unlimited fines for illegal traveller sites and special protection for green fields are to be welcomed.
Last week I discussed these issues, among others, with Mr Pickles during the Conservative Party conference.
Mr Pickles said: “There has been a lot of press speculation in recent weeks on the Green Belt. I want to be absolutely clear, the Green Belt plays a vital role in stopping urban sprawl and we will protect it.
“To maintain those environmental safeguards we have to be tough on those who break them."
He added: “Long drawn out cases like Dale Farm have brought the legal system into disrepute.
“In breach of planning law, travellers can move in over a bank holiday weekend and it takes years for councils to remove them. Such episodes give the whole travelling community a bad name and fuels community tensions.”
Mr Pickles said the Government was announcing new powers for councils to "stop such caravan movements in their tracks".
He added new instant 'Stop Notices' will allow councils to issue unlimited fines for those who “ignore planning rules and defy the law”.
Given that the Epping Forest District Council Local Plan could potentially have a huge impact on local residents, I welcome the pledge by Mr Pickles to protect our green belt fields, school playing fields, and areas such as Harlow's green wedges.
Residents deserve a good quality of life.
We must put much more emphasis on building on brownfield sites.
Also, given the problems that we have had with illegal travellers in Harlow and the villages, these new announcements will make it much easier to deal with these kind of problems – and to ensure that the rules apply to everyone equally.
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