Dale Farm Travellers To Open Site's Main Gate

Travellers To Open Main Gate At Dale Farm
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PRESS ASSOCIATION -- Protesters inside the UK's largest illegal travellers' site have said they will open the heavily barricaded main gate.

Meanwhile, Basildon Council confirmed that, if it succeeds in overturning the injunction preventing clearance of the Essex site at a court hearing on Friday, action could recommence within hours.

A spokesman said: "No decision has been taken but this is a seven-day operation and we could move in on the Saturday."

Earlier, supporters and residents on Dale Farm, near Basildon, said a planning inspector would be allowed to enter. Despite the concession, campaigners insist that the heavily barricaded main gate will remain in place.

The Dale Farm Solidarity campaign said that, following a meeting, the gate would be opened to allow residents to return and for the school bus to collect children.

Campaigner Sam Walters said: "Basildon Council must take this time to fulfil its responsibility to find and approve a legal and culturally suitable site for the Dale Farm community. It is imperative that the council engages in a meaningful and appropriate way with residents in fulfilling the injunction."

"A leaked source has revealed that the council intends to communicate with the residents via email. The council is aware of the fact that, due to limited opportunities for schooling for most travellers, a large proportion of the Dale Farm residents are illiterate, and have virtually no access to email."

A spokesman for Basildon Council said it would serve a schedule of how it will enforce the clearance of each plot by midday, setting 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. The estimated cost of the total operation is £18 million.

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 presents the facts to the court.