THE date has been set for a public inquiry into traveller site provision in the east of England.

It will closely examine the validity of evidence which suggests Basildon needs an extra 81 legal caravan pitches, Thurrock 44 and Southend, Rochford, Castle Point and Brentwood need 15 each.

The suggestion has been put forward by the East of England Regional Assembly and Government Office for the East of England following months of consultation.

The planning inspectorate has published a list of organisations likely to be involved in the week-long hearing starting on October 20.

Mike Beiley, a member of Crays Hill residents’ association, has also been invited to take part.

He said: “I have been in some dispute with the regional assembly since it started the consultation and was not impressed.

“I put my four penneth in and it seems to have paid off. Putting 81 more pitches in Basildon is not on, and the way it was calculated was wrong.”

Provisional participants invited to the hearing include the East of England Regional Assembly, Government Office for the East of England, several gipsies and traveller organisations, county councils, including Essex and other authorities including Basildon, Southend and Thurrock, and Cambridgeshire Police.

But Ramsden Crays Parish Council, which includes the massive unauthorised Dale Farm site in its boundaries, is not on the list.

However, chairman David McPherson-Davis said: “I helped the Essex Association of local councils with its submission and will be its representative at the relevant meetings.”

The hearing in Letchworth, Hertfordshire will look at regional needs.