Residents fear an illegal gypsy site in Meriden will turn into a new Dale Farm with an eviction battle dragging on for many years.

Travellers living on the Eaves Green Lane camp made a legal agreement with Solihull Borough Council to leave the green belt site by the end of March, 2013.

The move followed a hearing at Birmingham High Court, which also saw the gypsies agree to restore the area to its original state within a month of the departure date.

But the Residents Against Inappropriate Development (RAID) group, who have been manning a counter camp for nearly 700 days, fear the travellers may lodge further planning applications before the deadline.

This could see the already-long running eviction battle rumble on for many more years.

Dale Farm in Essex is owned by members of the travelling community and was established as an Irish traveller site without planning permission. Bailiffs only started clearing the area last October following a 10-year battle.

David McGrath, from RAID, said: “Our concerns is that Solihull Council is about to fall for a ‘sucker punch’ that many other councils fall for in the same situation. They give some sort of permission but then when the deadline approaches, the travellers simply put in another planning application and the whole process starts again.

“That’s how Dale Farm happened, multiple planning applications funded through legal aid. The council need to be clear that it will not entertain any further planning applications for that site. Otherwise it could be easy to get into a Groundhog Day scenario.”

Mr McGrath said RAID members will continue running their 24-hour protest camp – which also has no planning permission – until the gypsies are gone.

Solihull Borough Council decided on the 12-month timeframe after considering schooling, health and other issues.