There has been a great deal of coverage in the Echo recently regarding alternative site provision for members of the travelling community.

As a public agency we have a responsibility to help local councils meet the housing needs and priorities of all their residents, from all sections of the community.

In Basildon, where we are the guardian of significant amounts of public land, that means it is right we should make our sites available to the council for consideration as alternative provision for the travellers at Hovefields Drive and Dale Farm.

Having offered our land, it is now for the council to decide on the suitability of each site, or otherwise, before taking any proposals through the planning system. Traveller site provision is a local issue and needs a local decision.

We always operate in as open and transparent a fashion as possible, and there is no question that Basildon Council or Essex County Council were kept in the dark about the availability of our sites.

We have also met all the Echo’s requests for information that is already in the public domain, or would reasonably be released under the Freedom of Information Act.

However, we have not leaked any confidential documents, as was stated (Sept 24). On the contrary, we share Tony Ball’s concern at the apparent breach of confidentiality and are disappointed it means the steering group will now cease to operate, as we felt it was making good progress.

Nevertheless we will continue to support and enable councils throughout Essex to meet the housing priorities of their residents generally.

Our only objective is to help achieve the best outcome for all concerned – the council, and all local residents, which includes members of the travelling community.

Terry Fuller
East of England director
Homes and Communities Agency