A LEGAL bid will be made tomorrow to give Braintree Council the power to send bailiffs in to remove travellers from Great Notley.

Four caravans formed an illegal encampment on Notley Green on July 10, with half a dozen more joining the next day.

Tensions quickly frayed, and at one point, police were called to the site after angry residents refused to let an ambulance attend to one of the traveller’s young children, who was having trouble breathing.

Now, Braintree Council has issued the travellers with a summons detailing an application to be made at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court tomorrow that would allow bailiffs to be sent in.

Council leader Graham Butland said: “The legal action taken was to serve a copy of the summons and a copy of the court papers which the council are making to the magistrate’s court on Thursday to obtain a removal order on each of the travellers illegally camped on council-owned land.

"If the magistrates are minded to provide the council with a removal order, a copy of the order will be served on each of the travelers on Thursday afternoon, giving them a minimum of 24 hours to leave.

“If the travellers ignore the notice the council will have to put plans in place with a bailiff agency.”

Braintree Council has placed concrete blocks around the main green to stop any further incursions.

On Tuesday, Braintree MP James Cleverly met Essex Police Chief Constable Steven Kavanagh to “ensure robust law enforcement takes place”.

He said: “I understand how distressing this is for the local community.

“I am pleased to see action is now being taken to evict travellers from the site and I am investigating legislative ways to prevent this from happening again.”