BASILDON Council has called on the Government to make unauthorised camps illegal.

The council has issued its responses to the Government survey asking local authorities for their views on strengthening police powers to tackle trespassing groups.

The government launched the consultation in 2018. Since then, there have been numerous incidents of travellers pitching up unlawfully on land in the Basildon borough.

This included a large group of caravans in Beacons Field in Langdon Hills, and Sun Corner in Billericay in August and September last year, as well as incidents in Castle Point.

The council’s response was detailed in the agenda for the external affairs, partnerships and liaisons committee next week.

In response to a Government question on whether it should be made illegal for people to knowingly enter land with the owner’s permission, the council strongly agreed.

They said: “If this approach were to be taken, it would be important to ensure that a sufficient number of pitches were available nationwide to provide people the alternative to reside in a legal, temporary manner that respects their traditional way of life.”

The council were also in favour of lowering the number of vehicles required to form an unauthorised camp, and were supportive of police being given powers to seize property that was on land without permission.

Aidan McGurran, chairman of the committee, said: “Basildon Council like many other organisations were asked to provide a response to the Government consultation and were happy to do so.

“The response is a considered one to a complex problem and acknowledges that there are issues about the provision of transit facilities.

“This make issues of enforcement more difficult.”