Dale Farm

[Les]

I lived within a few miles from there for about twenty odd years. Never seemed to notice a "gyppo" problem ever. They seemed to keep themselves to themselves. There are a lot of expensive properties near there though, so I imagine the local residents kick up a fuss because it probably affects the land value..

[Snuffleupagus]

Barricades to keep out bailiffs at the UK's largest illegal traveller site are coming down in line with a court order.

Residents of Dale Farm in Essex won an injunction preventing the clearance of 51 unauthorised plots until Friday.

The order required Basildon Council to give a plot-by-plot breakdown of how it planned to clear plots and ordered residents to allow access to the site.

The council said schedules were issued on Tuesday by email and work began on the barricades early on Wednesday.

At a meeting on Tuesday night travellers and their supporters agreed to work together to move barricades.

Some families who had moved trailers to the legal part of the site are now bringing them back.

However, the travellers have said any attempt by bailiffs to enter the site would be opposed.

Resident Michelle McCarthy said: "With this court ruling we're finally hopeful that common sense will prevail, so we're moving our caravans back into Dale Farm.

"We're reasonable people and we urge the council to find a way that we can continue to live in peace as a community.

"We're all working together to open the gates, and we're so grateful to our friends and supporters for helping us."

A spokesman for Conservative-run Basildon Council said they were waiting to see how much of the obstruction to the site was removed before commenting.

The council has said that if it succeeds in overturning the injunction at a court hearing on Friday, action to clear the site could restart within hours.

In that case, the travellers would also be liable for all costs incurred by the delay, it said.

Police and the local council have set a budget for the clearance of the site at £18m.

Hannah Roberts, from the campaign group Dale Farm Solidarity, accused the council of "bloody-minded over-zealousness" and said the authority was "paying £1.2m a day for police to sit in hotel rooms and drink coffee when they could be funding schools and hospitals and building their community".

Margaret McCarthy, one of the leading traveller representatives at the site, said she understood some families among a group attempting to relocate to a public park in Luton had been at Dale Farm.

About 20 caravans have pitched up at Stockwood Park, a large public park on the outskirts of the town.

"We have officers down at the park reassuring local residents and are working with the local council to move quickly on this," a police spokeswoman said.

Luton Borough Council said it had no evidence to confirm that the group was from Dale Farm.

No complaints had been received from local residents and police were keeping an eye on the situation, it said.

A borough spokesman said: "The council was made aware of the encampment at Stockwood Park on Monday and immediately started legal procedure for eviction.

"We expect to move them on very soon. The target is seven working days, assuming that there are no other complications."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15003955

[Gypo]

We are much obliged to all you taxpayers because we are costing you a fortune in legal aid(and benefits),court costs and policing. Dig deep and cheers for your unwavering support.

[lol]

looks like they are all moving on to sunny Luton

[Guest]

looks like they are all moving on to sunny Luton

That's almost as big a shithole as Basildon.