Fears huge £3m 100-strong traveller site could be next Dale Farm as millionaire locals blast 'worst nightmare'

A HUGE £3million 100-strong traveller site could be the next Dale Farm as millionaire locals dub it their "worst nightmare".

Residents in Little Hadham, Hertfordshire, have been left stunned after travellers put their finishing touches on a £95,000 plot of land they own in the village.

Locals fear the area – where homes sell for more than £1million – could be the next Dale Farm.

Countless travellers famously set up camp at the Essex farm before being forced to move – with millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money spent on their legal challenge.

Meanwhile in Hertfordshire, work began at the site on Easter weekend in 2019 – before the group were swiftly told they had to move on.

But, after countless legal challenges they were last year granted permission to stay -sparking a desperate legal challenge from council officials.

Now, newly captured images of the one-acre settlement reveal the travellers have spent thousands on made-to-measure timber fencing.

Eight individual plots are now clearly identifiable.

And the site has its own tarmacked private road leading up to it – along with speed limit signs. 

There is visibly more room and standings in place for further caravans – sparking fears the camp will only get bigger.

One local said: "It's everyone's worst nightmare that a site gets established against everyone's wishes – then goes on to become the next Dale Farm.

"No-one has anything against travellers, but people have paid a fortune to live here and it's jarring they can just roll up and have a life here for next to nothing."

One local resident said: “We were all stunned when they moved onto the land but now we’ve got used to it and life goes on. 

“It’s not ideal but they are keeping themselves to themselves.” 

A planning inspector said Hadham was a "sustainable location for a gypsy and traveller site in relation to accessibility to services and facilities".

They added: "The development would not unduly harm that character and appearance of the surrounding area."

Last year, more than 200 locals complained about loud partying and daily rubbish fires.

One said: "This is a bitter pill to swallow, especially for anyone who pays their taxes and upholds the law.

"When they moved onto the site, it was with military precision. I think they caught everyone napping.

"They've put a decent driveway in and then you had to laugh as suddenly there were these little speed limit signs.

"I'm not saying I'm over the moon about what's happened, but you have to take your hat off to them about how it was all done. They knew what they were doing, and now it's paid off in bucketloads."

Another resident fumed: "We're just going to have to wait and see now. I think there will be further action on this, there has to be."

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