TEMPORARY permission for travellers to remain on a pitch just off the A127 has been granted after the group withdrew a planning appeal.

The seven families, who have lived on land at Cranfield Park Avenue, Wickford, for the past decade, had threatened to take legal action to seek permanent permission to stay.

But the long-term future of the plot remains in doubt after the group was only given a five-year permission.

The site, which is on green belt land, has been the subject of prolonged legal wrangling, which resulted in a temporary order being granted in 2009.

That permission expired in June 2014, but the travellers did not submit a new application until September 2014.

Basildon Council failed to respond to the application within the legally required 13-week period, meaning the applicants took their case to the Government’s planning inspectorate.

Labour councillor Adele Brown labelled the authority “inept” for failing to meet the needs of the travellers.

The appeal was withdrawn earlier this month, meaning the five-year permission has now been granted.

A Basildon Council spokesman said: “The Planning Inspectorate has confirmed that the appeal has been withdrawn by the applicants, so a temporary planning permission has been issued.”