Eviction of the travellers at Dale Farm

[Messie]

Even though I live on the other side of Essex, there has been a lot of talk today about the eviction of the travellers from the illegal bit of their site in Basildon.

I've looked at this from many angles, seen the news, listened to the reports and read many articles but I still can't make up my mind. I really can see both sides in this sorry situation. The travellers set up camp without planning permission, and have been difficult about it ever since. Basildon council are being so over jobsworthy it's now becoming a stupid massive expense.

I'd like to hear some other org views (so long as they're not nasty or racist or inflammatory) because as far as I see it, they're all in the wrong!

[maviczap]

Sorry but they've broken the law and its an illegal site. If you let them stay then the whole of the country will have a legal president to sty if they can do this, so can we.

You're not allowed to steal things its against the law

you're not allowed to break the speed limits its against the law.

One half of this site is legal, so why couldn't they ask for planning permission when they first set up the site?

Just to balance this up a bit, even in their native Ireland they are seen as a problem, its not just in England

Oh and they're supposed to be travellers, I don't see much evidence of them travelling with permanent buildings being errected

[SoulKiss]

How can you be a "Traveller" and own a brick built house?

As said - they broke the law now the law needs to sort it out.

[Messie]

Yep, I see all those points.

But 10 years arguing and going to court and millions already spent, and the eviction costing more? All over land that strictly speaking was once a scrapyard?

[Bri w]

Travellers, in one form or another, have been with us for hundreds of years. And for what ever reason there has always been mistrust, veiled hostility and downright open warfare on occasion between them and residents.

From my perspective they take from society, and give little in return. They may say they take nothing but just who pays for the clean up of a site after they've moved on? Who cleans up whilst they're there? And more often than not, talking from bitter experience, they cause trouble in town - we get 1/2 doz vans several times a year move onto a field near us. They usually arrive late in the week, and get at least a week before they're moved on.

However, doing nothing will not resolve a perpetual problem.

Personally I'd like to see permanent sites established for them that they must use. That they pay a site fee, in effect a council tax. If they won't do either then their vehicle is impounded until they pay. If they haven't paid within a set time then the vehicle is sold to pay their overdue fees.

As for Basildon Council being in the wrong, what law have they broken?

[maviczap]

They keep quoting that their Human Rights have been infringed

But this is about Planning Law, if you or I had irrected an illegal building and retrospective planning permission had been refused then the council would tell you to remove the building, otherwise they would have the power to demolish it.

Seen cases of this happening to Joe Public, so why do these Travellers think they can flout the law?

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by Messie

But 10 years arguing and going to court and millions already spent, and the eviction costing more? All over land that strictly speaking was once a scrapyard?

Change of use from commercial to residential

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by Bri w

From my perspective they take from society, and give little in return. They may say they take nothing but just who pays for the clean up of a site after they've moved on? Who cleans up whilst they're there? And more often than not, talking from bitter experience, they cause trouble in town - we get 1/2 doz vans several times a year move onto a field near us. They usually arrive late in the week, and get at least a week before they're moved on.

However, doing nothing will not resolve a perpetual problem.

Personally I'd like to see permanent sites established for them that they must use. That they pay a site fee, in effect a council tax. If they won't do either then their vehicle is impounded until they pay. If they haven't paid within a set time then the vehicle is sold to pay their overdue fees.

As for Basildon Council being in the wrong, what law have they broken?

Yes if you impounded the brand new Range Rover I saw on the site, then they might pay their dues.

I've got zero sympathy tbh, I have to pay tax and bills for everything and abide by the rules so why shouldn't they.

The council aren't in the wrong at all so how can they "both" be to blame?

Let this one go and before long you'd have illegal sites everywhere, it's their lifestyle choice, nothing more.

[Messie]

Bri - I completely agree that the council haven't broken any law. For once I'm not being a bleeding heart liberal here. The travellers have broken a law and shouldn't just get away with it, as we wouldn't if we didn't abide by planning laws.

I just find it difficult to reconcile this with the millions spent on the legal fight and now the eviction. Not all, but a significant proportion, will have to be paid by local people through council taxes. This area has a lot of unemployment and many people are not well off, and that seems unfair to me.

Couldn't they have found a compomise somewhere down the line?