We are writing to you to strongly object to the proposed plans to put travellers sites on/around London Road, Rayleigh (sites GT1, GT2 and GT3 in particular).

We have been informed by one of our local MPs that the legal amount of pitches Rochford District Council has to allocate for travellers can be spread over the whole borough, yet the proposal suggests making space for all of them in one place, on land to the north of London Road, Rayleigh and/or close by.

Surely anyone in their right mind would not allow such sites to be so close to our homes and schools, as this will have a detrimental and completely negative impact on our community and everyday lives.

For most people living in this part of Rayleigh, the first road they use to approach the town is London Road. To have a traveller's site here will destroy what is currently lovely countryside and will ruin the beautiful views we have. A traveller site being the first thing you see as you approach Rayleigh isn't good for any business in the area or home owner contemplating selling their property. Nobody wants to live near these sites and I'm sure the councillors giving the go ahead do not actually live anywhere near here, otherwise they would not do so! The green fields between London Road and Rawreth Lane should be left alone!

More importantly, the travelling community have no interest or desire in joining our community and the feeling is strongly reciprocated. Previous experiences of local traveller sites prove that the crime rate increases and morale amongst residents falls, as the police are usually unable to intervene due to intimidation by these travellers.

If provisions for some of these pitches have to be made, then why should Rayleigh have all of them? Surely it would be fairer if some of the other areas in the borough provided land for them and they were spread out? This would also help with policing them as the groups would be smaller and hopefully wouldn't expand as quickly.
There is a lot of unused land further out in the borough - on the A1245 for instance - surely this would be a better place for these sites to be located?

We urge you to strongly revise your plans to allow travellers so close to our residential community.