Dale Farm eviction could be delayed for weeks

Two further judicial reviews lodged with courts as high court judge delays decision The residents of Dale Farm won a further temporary legal victory on Friday when a high court judge ruled that he would not make a decision on the fate of the site until after the weekend. A final decision on whether bailiffs can move in and mount one of the largest evictions in British history could be delayed by weeks after it emerged that two further judicial reviews over the contested site in Essex had been lodged with the courts. Dale Farm residents gained an emergency injunction on Monday to prevent bailiffs entering the site, which is home to 86 families. The injunction was granted because of fears that Basildon council’s eviction “may go further” than allowed. If the two judicial reviews go ahead, they could add thousands to the already substantial legal bills generated by the Dale Farm battle, with the eviction itself estimated to cost up to £18m before the most recent delay. At the high court, Marc Willers, on behalf of Dale Farm, argued that the injunction should be extended because moves to clear the site were legally flawed. Mr Justice Edwards-Stuart told the court the “ultimate eviction” was “in many cases going to happen”. There could be no dispute about the eviction notices themselves, he added, warning: “Anybody who thinks this is a long stay of execution while minor squabbles are carried out – they must think again.” However, he said that did “not mean that they [Dale farm residents] are not entitled to be treated with dignity and that any eviction must be carried out in a sensitive way”. He added: “The ultimate eviction which is, in many cases, going to happen must be carried out, in so far as possible, with people knowing exactly what is going on, what is going to happen and in a way which causes minimum alarm to children and others. It can’t be used as yet another springboard for delay.” Dale Farm Roma, Gypsies and Travellers Alexandra Topping guardian.co.uk

Posted by on September 23, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.