World News - Dale Farm plots get quit notices

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  • xman
    Admin
    • Sep 2006
    • 24007

    World News - Dale Farm plots get quit notices

    20 September 2011 Last updated at 05:56 ET Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.



    Dale Farm resident Kathleen McCarthy said she would fight on "to the bitter end"


    Basildon Council is to serve enforcement notices later on each of the 51 illegally occupied plots at the travellers' site at Dale Farm in Essex.

    Travellers have been granted an injunction until Friday preventing Basildon Council entering the site to clear the unauthorised plots.

    Residents and their supporters say a planning inspector may be allowed to go on to the site at Crays Hill.

    But residents insist the main gate will remain heavily barricaded.

    One of the campaigners for the residents, Grattan Puxon said: "The gate stays, although we will look at building a side gate to allow a council officer access.

    "The remaining issue is what is a touring caravan, which they can remove, and what is a static home, which they can't.

    "There is also an ongoing argument over hard standings laid by the council when it was a scrapyard which we say should remain."

    A spokesman for Basildon Council said the enforcement notices would set out the precise action the authority intends to take.

    He added that, should the council overturn the injunction, travellers will be liable for all costs incurred by the delay.

    It is thought the cost of the evictions process could reach £18m.

    Council leader Tony Ball said he was frustrated by the delay but added that he was confident the ruling would be overturned once the authority presented its case to the court.

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    Basildon Council leader Tony Ball says he is "disappointed and frustrated"


    He said the injunction was granted because the judge at the Royal Courts of Justice wanted more information.

    "On Friday when the court hears the council's case we will be back in the position we were in on Monday," he said.

    As many as 400 people have been living on 51 unauthorised caravan plots at Dale Farm.

    Mr Ball said: "If we did not enforce the judgement we have been granted here then how could any other local authority in the country impose planning controls?

    "We cannot turn a blind eye to this. We have been waiting for 10 years so another few days will not matter."

    Residents said they would be looking at ways to turn touring caravans into permanent dwellings in an attempt to thwart planners.

    Resident Kathleen McCarthy said: "We met last night and we are more determined than ever to stay."





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