In October of this year, we produced a blog about a community of gypsies facing eviction from Dale Farm in Essex. It has been reported that the 400 individuals are threatening to return to, and illegally re-occupy the six acre land, once the clearing of the site has been finished.
The evicted travellers have been moved to a nearby legal site, after they lost the long legal battle against Basildon Council. A large police operation to remove them ended with three people being arrested of for offences in connection with the protests.
According to Mr Reuben Taylor from Basildon Council said; “They told staff involved in the clearance that they would return once workers had gone. It is simply that the contractors are coming towards the end of their operation, and will leave the site very shortly”.
The council now want a court injunction to avoid that from happening. Mr Justice Langstaff said he wanted: “More detailed evidence of threats of re-occupation before granting any injunction” and has adjourned the hearing until today.”
‘The Planning for Traveller Sites’, published by the Government states: “It is clear that we will not tolerate abuse of the planning system by a small minority of Travellers who set up unauthorised developments, which create tension, undermine community cohesion and create resentment against the overwhelming majority of law-abiding Travellers who do not live on an unauthorised sites.”
But the question we have to ask here is, ‘Can the Government really keep their promise, without causing significant negative affects?’ If the Government carries on with the legal battle with the gypsies, it would mean the further costs to already spent £18 million, which could potentially have significant negative impacts on all of us, with increases to tax. However, if the council do decide not to object the travellers’ attempts to re-enter Dale Farm, it would mean allowing the gypsy community to reside on illegal sites. This means whatever happens, it would not have any positive impacts for the general public.
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