The owner of a property where there were fears it could be turned into a traveller site has said they are unfounded.

Basildon councillor Chris Jackman had voiced fears after the run down house on the A127, known as Hillview, had work start to cut back the vegetation and a new wooden fence was put up around the site.

He also claimed that hardcore had been put around the property near Honiley Avenue, Wickford, prompting concerns that the huge piece of land, which could accommodate about 20 caravans, could become a new traveller site.

However, this has been disputed by the land owner, who says he is not a traveller and is not building a traveller site.

There is currently a large touring caravan parked up at the site.

Basildon Council has already issued a stop notice with regards to the caravan.

A council spokesman said: “A temporary stop notice in relation to the stationing of a caravan on a plot of land known as Hillview off the A127 near Honiley Avenue, Wickford, was issued by Basildon Council in December 2017.

“An investigation into unauthorised development is ongoing, with formal enforcement action currently being considered.”

Residents fear travellers have bought the land and are turning into a new Dale Farm

Basildon councillor for Wickford Park Ward, Christopher Jackman said: “It’s been that way for as long as I can remember, so at least 12 years.

“If you look on Google Maps you can see from July 2017 it was overgrown with trees, but it has subsequently been cleared and a mobile home has been put in.

“A stop notice was issued by Basildon Council but on Monday activity began picking up, hardcore has been deposited and fences built, so clearly nothing has stopped.

“It looks like it’s being built as part of a new travellers site to be inhabited over Easter weekend.”

The Echo reported in December last year that travellers were understood to be building caravan pitches on the same plot of land.

The land is adjacent to but not within the Hovefields neighbourhood, which encompasses a large traveller site.

Mr Jackman added: “It looks like it’s quite an investment, there have been a large number of tipper lorries passing through and lots of activity.

“It’s an interesting time because we have the local plan vote tonight. Wickford and Basildon will become trapped because we haven’t got a handle on enforcement.

“There’s already two legitimate traveller sites being granted and tolerated, one in the Wick and one at Hovefield. Where does it end?”

The home owner, who asked not to be named, said it was untrue that the land would be used for travellers and insisted that he was only building a new house on the land.

He added that he had put in planning applications for the relevant work.

He said no hardcore had been dumped on the land, and that there was no need for it, due to the site already being concreted.