Claims that Dale Farm has become dumping ground

A year on from the eviction of travellers from Dale Farm in Essex, Basildon Council is facing claims that the condition of the site has become much worse.

Local resident Len Gridley says, since the eviction, the site has become a dump.

The situation is so bad that the Environment Agency is now investigating the condition of the land.

Tony Ball, the leader of Basildon Council said he shares Len Gridley's frustration but said "doing nothing was simply not an option...the site will be something in keeping that people will recognise as a green belt site sometime in the future."

Council officers, however, have been unable to begin work to restore the Dale Farm site to green belt land and it is regularly being used for fly-tipping.

The land is currently filled with rubble, remains of chalets and earth embankments constructed to stop travellers moving back on. Local residents and activists have also said the site is littered with sewage.

Although some travellers left Dale Farm when they were evicted last year, many did not travel very far: there are now about 20 caravans occupying Oak Lane which leads up to the site. The travellers say they have no choice but to live there.

Some travellers, including those with permission to live on the site, have also left because of the mess and rubbish.

According to Basildon Council, the eviction cost £4.2 million - the cost of which is shared with the government.

Local councillor David McPherson-Davis said if the eviction had not gone ahead, it could encourage others to develop greenfield sites illegally.

Protesters are planning to target the Department of Communities and Local Government offices in London on Friday to mark the first anniversary of the eviction.