A HIGH Court judge has thrown out Thurrock Council’s attempt to prevent travellers setting up an eight-caravan pitch on green land.

Thurrock Council had refused an application for a traveller site at Manor View, in Southend Road, Corringham, in 2014.

But the Planning Inspectorate overturned the decision on appeal, leading the council to take the case to the High Court in a bid to stop the site being used.

A High Court judge has now ruled the inspector’s decision was fair, and has thrown out the legal challenge.

The Ward family has lived at the site since March 2013 and lodged a retrospective application the following year for a five-year permission to remain there.

The council initially rejected the application, arguing it would cause harm to the green belt.

But on appeal, the Planning Inspectorate reversed the decision because there was a shortage of traveller pitches in the borough and the council could not demonstrate how it would meet demand over the five-year period.

In his High Court ruling, Judge Phillip Sycamore said there was no reason to overturn the inspectorate decision.

A Thurrock Council spokesman said: “In the summer, Thurrock Council decided to challenge three decisions by the Planning Inspectorate regarding traveller sites.

“Seeking reviews of this kind is always a risk, but the comparatively low level of costs show that our concerns were not trivial.

“The council stands by its decision and is currently considering its position and seeking legal advice about whether or not to appeal and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further.”