A pub owner fears that a development of caravan pitches nearby could have an impact on her expanding business and others in the area.

Lynne Mohseni, who owns the Gun Pub in London Road, Bowers Gifford, said she and other business owners have objected strongly to Basildon Council validating a planning application submitted to build a pitch for four caravans on an area south of Church Road.

The planning application to provide accommodation for a “gypsy traveller family” was submitted when the travellers turned up on the land.

Mrs Mohseni fears that if the council approves the proposal, people would be put off visiting her pub and the neighbouring hotel and function room which will be built on the pub’s premises.

She said: “Customers have been very supportive of us to build-up the pub.

“But they have also told me they don’t want to look out the window and see a camp site.

“We’ve a lot of elderly residents here and they’re afraid the traveller pitches may grow and they’re understandably worried this will affect their property’s value.

“The fact that council has allowed a planning proposal on a green belt site to go through for consideration is very unfair.

“It shouldn’t be like this, planning laws should apply to everyone regardless of what community you’re from.

“While the Gun is also on a green belt site but the pub has been there before the government made it into a green belt site. When I applied for planning permission to extend the pub’s premises I had to fight hard for it.”

Mrs Mohseni, who has run the pub for eight years, said she had fought for almost four years for approval of her planning proposal. This had cost her thousands of pounds.

She said: “I had proven how our planning proposal will benefit the community. I had support from the community and councillors to extend the pub. The function room has a wakes service and it will bring more employment. There aren’t many traditional pubs in the country so we are preserving a heritage. I’m worried a traveller site will affect all of this.”