Dale Farm Travellers seek more time for planning applications

High court decides whether to issue 28-day injunction against eviction notice issued by Basildon council Almost half of the residents of Dale Farm could find legal new homes nearby if Basildon council would consider two new planning applications, Traveller supporters said before a last-minute injunction before a high court judge. An emergency injunction against the eviction notice on more than 80 families living at Dale Farm in Essex is being sought by the Travellers to allow time for the new applications to be heard for smaller sites on brownfield land owned by the government, one of which is within sight of Dale Farm on the outskirts of Basildon in Essex. The high court will determine on Wednesday whether to issue a 28-day injunction against the eviction notice issued by Basildon council. The Travellers would then seek a series of rolling injunctions to delay their eviction from Dale Farm for several months until alternative accommodation can be found. A two-day public inquiry into the second proposed new site three miles from Dale Farm is due to be heard on 22 November. Candy Sheridan, a Traveller and expert in planning law who is assisting Dale Farm residents, said she was optimistic that there was a good case for an emergency stop to be placed on the eviction, which will happen over a number of weeks from Thursday. “We know we’ve got good enough grounds,” she said. According to Sheridan, Basildon council has wrongly claimed to have “exhausted all avenues” in the 10-year planning battle over Dale Farm, leaving it no option but to bring in bailiffs to enforce the eviction of up to 400 Travellers, including more than 100 children. Sheridan said that the council has failed to determine applications submitted for alternative sites in the Basildon area. “All we keep saying to Basildon is why don’t you stop and let’s talk about this,” she said. A spokesman for Basildon borough council said they would not comment further until the outcome of the high court hearing and would be “rigorously” defending its position. If the injunction is refused by the judge, there will be at least 10 pitches available for Dale Farm residents in Suffolk but the vast majority will be forced to live on the roadside if they do not take up Basildon council’s offer of temporary accommodation in social housing. As well as Vanessa Redgrave, the Bishops of Chelmsford and Brentwood visited Dale Farm yesterday. “Our hope is there will be a stay of execution and a chance to look again for a permanent solution which is a solution for the whole community,” said the Rt Rev Stephen Cottrell, the Bishop of Chelmsford. The Rt Rev Thomas McMahon, Bishop of Brentwood, added: “There is a fantastic primary school where all these children go – eviction will disrupt the education for these children and they will have to go to another school where they will be in a minority and discriminated against. “In our society we’ve learned to respect minority groups and here we are breaking one up.” Dale Farm Roma, Gypsies and Travellers Housing Communities Planning policy Patrick Barkham guardian.co.uk

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