The government department, led by Conservative Eric Pickles, and responsible for much-criticised changes to Traveller site provision in the recent Localism Act, refused to comment last night. Those serving the notice insisted they had completed a full ‘Equalities Impact Assessment’ that had “balanced the needs of Eric Pickles’ political career against the rights of travelling communities to a home”.

Pickles’ department have been given 28 days to vacate the premises, with those behind the notice insisting that if this is not observed, “direct action will commence no later than 1pm on the 19th October”. Speculation over the significance of the date has filled the department, with many pointing to the first anniversary of the Dale Farm eviction as a primary reason. A video was leaked last night of the notice being served and can be viewed below.

For comment or media enquiries contact: tsn-media@noflag.org.uk
or call 07729762059

**************************************************************************************************************************

We’re launching the ‘Fight for Sites’ campaign this autumn: a confrontational and much-needed challenge to local and national Government, bailiff companies and the Media, who together construct a cycle of homelessness, evictions and racism. On September 20th we’ll be having a public meeting, on October 19th a Mass Action to coincide with the first anniversary of the Dale Farm eviction. Click on the links below to find out more.

We also have an ‘Action Pack’ for all those interested in the issues and those who want to know more about the campaign.

The “before and after” photographs again proved good evidence for visitors to the stall. All
were dismayed and upset when they saw the state of Dale Farm after its destruction by
Basildon Council.

Lots of people stopped to talk with us, take leaflets and sign the petition, including at least
two groups of Travellers who were not from Dale Farm. Some passers-by were not
supporters but genuinely wanted to find out more, while some others just didnʼt want to
know anything.

Leaflets were given only to people who wanted them, and about 25-50% of passers-by
took one. 30 more people signed the petition to Basildon Council supporting the Travellersʼ
right to stop on land in Basildon; some people were so indignant about the Councilʼs
treatment of the Traveller families that they marched over to sign it without the need for an invitation.

By lunch-time the office workers were out on the streets so we had a different type of
audience. In all we handed out hundreds of leaflets and it was an interesting experience,
as well as useful for informing and gauging public opinion; which is important at local
council level.

Several times we were all busy engaged in talking to passers-by so even more people on
the stall would be appreciated, and would be well-employed. It could be tied into a visit or
meeting on Dale Farm.

The next stall will be in Basildon on Thursday 6th September 11:30-14:00. From the
outside of Basildon Council Offices look across to the far left corner between Wilkinsonʼs
and M&S – you’ll see our flags!
Do try to join us – and bring some music if you can!

The Council had previously committed to the removal of all polluted material from the site in the High Court and received funding from the Department of Communities and Local Government for the task  as part of their multimillion pound clearance last October. Since then council contactors have bunded* the land, exposing thousands of tons of subsoil – a temporary measure, the council claims, to prevent families from returning to their properties.

Inspectors from the Environment Agency will now determine whether in doing so the council has created a serious health hazard in digging up the land, not only for families on the road but for adjacent homes, including over fifty authorized Dale Farm properties.

Parts of the Dale Farm estate have in the past been used by Basildon council for the storage of abandoned vehicles, as well as landfill. Over 6,000 cars were scrapped at the site before it was sold over a decade ago to families [3].

Local campaigners have made complaints to the Environment Agency that by breaking up extensive hard-standing, the council have themselves caused massive pollution. Grattan Puxon, longtime Dale Farm supporter and friend of the evicted families said “the council have no leg to stand on. They’ve evicted families from their homes on the principle that the land was greenbelt, and yet they’ve now spent millions polluting the land after the eviction. Meanwhile the families that used to live here are still homeless and have nowhere else to go and yet the council seem intent of driving them out of Basildon”.

——

* Bunding is the process by which flat land is turned into embankments and trenches. Developers regularly do this to make land uninhabitable.

[1] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/dale-farm-clearance-cost-7m-6348872.html
[2] https://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jul/25/former-dale-farm-travellers-new-eviction-attempt
[3] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8768242/Dale-Farm-was-always-a-scrap-yard-says-former-site-owner.html

For Comment: Grattan Puxon 07757533380

Since October’s forced eviction families have been unable to move from Dale Farm due to a lack of plots in the area — they have lived in cramped conditions without running water, regular electricity as well as sewage problems [1]. In recent months council contractors have dug up asbestos.

Mary Sheridan, a mother living on Oak Lane, said “The council and thegovernment still will not listen, we have nowhere else to go. Why would we beliving with asbestos, no running water and sewage if we had somewhereelse to go. We want a safe place to live where our kids can go to school, is that toomuch ask?”

Last month, the Traveller Solidarity Network [2], who have supported familiesover recent years, announced plans for a demonstration on the anniversary of lastyear’s eviction [3]. The anniversary action on the 19th October isset to target the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Jo McGuire, Dale Farm supporter and member of the Traveller SolidarityNetwork, claims “The message this time last year is still the same today, thesefamilies have nowhere else to go because the council have failed to authoriseany pitches in the area. The council is choosing to evict before new planningapplications have been considered. These families are trying to do everything they can to keep their kids in the local school, but it seems the council just wants to clear them from the area.”

[1] https://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2012/apr/20/dale-farm-eviction-video

[2] www.travellersolidarity.org

[3] https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/basildon/9767356.Eric_Pickles_faces_demo_outside_offices_on_anniversary_of_Dale_Farm_eviction/

—

Media enquiries: 07531330353

Twitter: @travellersol

Visit https://travellersolidarity.org/

Please email tsn-media@noflag.org.uk to be added to our press list

In response to today’s ruling, Jessica Hughes of Dale Farm Solidarity said:

“Legal observing is vital in protecting the right to protest and holding the police to account for their actions. It also provides valuable and reliable information in the event of criminal charges and lawsuits. By posing undercover as legal observers for two months, the Sun effectively sabotaged the work of legal monitors at Dale Farm, and put into jeopardy future legal monitoring programmes throughout the UK.

One would have thought that after their mishandling of the phone-hacking scandal, the PCC would be more diligent in protecting the public from such acts of subterfuge. This ruling makes it abundantly clear that the PCC are incapable of reigning in the more extreme tendencies of the British media.  We have forwarded information concerning our complaint to the Leverson Inquiry, which is currently drafting criteria for the body that will replace the discredited PCC.  The effectiveness of self-regulating bodies such as the PCC needs to be thoroughly questioned.”

For further comment, call 07729762059.  Documents available upon request.

Displaced Dale Farm Travellers face a new round of evictions by Basildon Council. Following forcible eviction from their own land in October 2011, the 83 homeless families – including 100 children – have moved onto the private road leading to their former home and onto the adjoining Crays Hill site. Basildon Council issued new enforcement notices to the families last month, which have now expired, opening the way for a further eviction in the near future. [1]

This directly contravenes the public letter from Thomas Hammarberg, EU Commissioner for Human Rights, in February this year, in which he urged Eric Pickles, Minister for Communities and Local Government, “to ensure that an end be put to violations of the right to adequate housing of Travellers in Basildon”. He called the eviction in October “highly regrettable”. [2]

International concern has been widespread, with the UN and Amnesty International both condemning the original eviction.[3] Last week, as part of ‘Roma Nation Day’, a global day of protest against discrimination towards Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities, Roma activists in Romania held up flags declaring ‘We Support Dale Farm’ [see photo].[4]

Roma Activists in Romania hold a banner saying 'We Support Dale Farm' as part of Roma Nation Day.

Dale Farm resident and mother of three, Mary O’Brien, said today, “Tony Ball knows that we have nowhere else to go. He says he’s offered us council housing, but what kind of option is that? It would be the death of our Travelling culture, the death of our community. The last eviction was terrible, I never want me or my kids to go through anything like it again – but we don’t have any other options but to stay now. I’m absolutely terrified by the idea of another eviction.”

This Saturday, Dale Farm Travellers, local residents and supporters from the Traveller Solidarity Network are planning a ‘day of action’ in Basildon town centre to build local support against the eviction, with leafleting, a petition and street theatre. [5]

Annie Murray, a Wickford resident, said, “Basildon Council have acted disgracefully, spending millions of pounds making all these families homeless. That’s not what I paid my council tax for and I think a lot of people are angry about the senseless waste of money in these tight times. There’s an election coming up and it is absolutely essential now that settled people support the Dale Farm community and stand up against the prejudice and ignorance of Tony Ball’s Tory Council. This whole community deserves better, settled and travelling.”

[3] https://www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=19665.

[4] For more information on Roma Nation Day, see:

https://travellersolidarity.org/2012/04/09/london-roma-nation-day/

[5] For more information on Saturday’s day of action, see:

https://travellersolidarity.org/2012/04/04/day-of-action-in-basildon-saturday-14th-april/

Dale Farm residents and supporters at High Court last September