AN OLD factory site renowned for attracting travellers is a "colossal wasted opportunity", a councillor has said.

Braintree Council has spoken to the landowner of the Crittall Factory site in Silver End, and has come up with a security programme to prevent travellers from entering.

Travellers moved onto the site at the start of the month, and residents feared it would spoil the village's 90th anniversary celebrations.

The council has confirmed they will be lining the larger site entrances with 1.5tonne concrete blogs, and will clear up any rubbish and damage.

James Abbott, district councillor for Silver End and Cressing, said he was pleased security is being improved but wants the site to be redeveloped as soon as possible.

He said: "During the time the travellers were there I said to the council they should make sure it's secure properly.

"The gate was welded shut but they could get through it quite easily. The council came back quickly and said they had been talking with the owners and I believe they have started to go in already, so that's promising."

He said the next step is to make sure the site is redeveloped to deter travellers.

He said: "I'm hopefully going to be meeting with officers about the long term future of the site as it has been derelict for a long time.

"Now it's become even more pressing that we get it redeveloped.

"It's the perfect brownfield site for a village museum, small businesses and housing. At the moment it's a colossal wasted opportunity."

He suggested using more available from the New Homes Bonus, or finding out the landowner's plans for the lease.

A Braintree District Council spokesperson said: “The land owners have been very co-operative in arranging the repossession of their land from the travellers, adequately securing it and are currently in the process of arranging its clean-up.”