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Dale Farm travellers' eviction: High Court appeal due Dale Farm travellers' eviction: High Court appeal due
(about 2 hours later)
A severely ill traveller living on an illegal site in Essex is going to the High Court to try to stop a council evicting her and other residents.A severely ill traveller living on an illegal site in Essex is going to the High Court to try to stop a council evicting her and other residents.
Mary Flynn, 72, who lives at Dale Farm near Basildon, will apply for an injunction to stop her eviction from the site where 80 families live.Mary Flynn, 72, who lives at Dale Farm near Basildon, will apply for an injunction to stop her eviction from the site where 80 families live.
Mrs Flynn suffers breathing problems and also uses an electric nebuliser.Mrs Flynn suffers breathing problems and also uses an electric nebuliser.
From midnight, an order comes into force meaning Basildon Council will have legal powers to begin evictions.From midnight, an order comes into force meaning Basildon Council will have legal powers to begin evictions.
The authority said it was carrying out court decisions and added it was talking to residents to try to find a solution.The authority said it was carrying out court decisions and added it was talking to residents to try to find a solution.
Mrs Flynn said that switching off the electricity would be a threat to her health as the power is needed to drive the nebuliser that helps her breathe.Mrs Flynn said that switching off the electricity would be a threat to her health as the power is needed to drive the nebuliser that helps her breathe.
Actress and bishopsActress and bishops
She claims that other elderly residents on the site face similar problems.She claims that other elderly residents on the site face similar problems.
Two other planning applications have been lodged in the hope of buying time for the travellers.Two other planning applications have been lodged in the hope of buying time for the travellers.
Although the deadline for residents to leave voluntarily expires at midnight on Wednesday, forced evictions are expected to follow next month.Although the deadline for residents to leave voluntarily expires at midnight on Wednesday, forced evictions are expected to follow next month.
Families at the former scrap yard own their land but many do not have planning permission for homes, despite repeated applications. Families at the former scrapyard own their land but many do not have planning permission for homes, despite repeated applications.
Although supporters are hopeful a peaceful solution can be found, residents believe the eviction could become confrontational.Although supporters are hopeful a peaceful solution can be found, residents believe the eviction could become confrontational.
Mother-of-two Mary O'Brien, who has lived on the site for 10 years, said: "If they come in with bulldozers we will put up a fight.Mother-of-two Mary O'Brien, who has lived on the site for 10 years, said: "If they come in with bulldozers we will put up a fight.
"All this will do is move us 50 yards down the road and it will be a huge waste of public money.""All this will do is move us 50 yards down the road and it will be a huge waste of public money."
'No crime committed''No crime committed'
Two bishops and an actress visited the site on Tuesday to support the residents. Two bishops and actress Vanessa Redgrave visited the site on Tuesday to support the residents.
Bishop of Chelmsford Stephen Cottrell and Catholic Bishop of Brentwood Thomas McMahon went on a pastoral visit and pleaded with authorities to think again about the eviction Bishop of Chelmsford Stephen Cottrell and Catholic Bishop of Brentwood Thomas McMahon went on a pastoral visit and pleaded with authorities to think again about the eviction.
Bishop McMahon said it was a "humanitarian" problem.
"We cannot condone unruly and bad and inexcusable behaviour, I would not want to condone that," he said.
"But at the same time, one met real people, with real problems and emotions and stress, because of the forthcoming eviction and facing nowhere to go."
He called for more authorised sites and said: "They just do not seem to be available."
Long-term resident Marianne McCarthy said a whole community would be destroyed.
"I think it's just scandalous the way that we're getting treated," she said.
"To put all young children out of the school, out on the road with no education whatsoever, no healthcare, no water, no facilities. I mean, this is not fair.
"We bought and paid for this land ourself. We are not squatting on it and we've done everything by the book and this is the outcome of it today."
Actress and human rights campaigner Vanessa Redgrave took time off filming Song for Marion to visit the site and said "lives will be ruined" if the planned eviction goes ahead.Actress and human rights campaigner Vanessa Redgrave took time off filming Song for Marion to visit the site and said "lives will be ruined" if the planned eviction goes ahead.
The Oscar-winning actress and UN ambassador said: "It's a day on which I have great hope that this strong, wise, warm and gentle community will have their rights protected and will not have their rights disintegrated. The Oscar-winning actress and UN ambassador said: "The whole situation is really about planning - there's no crime that has been committed.
"The whole situation is really about planning - there's no crime that has been committed.
"Evicting these families would be totally unreasonable and irresponsible.""Evicting these families would be totally unreasonable and irresponsible."
Battle lasts 10 years
Basildon Council said Ms Redgrave's visit changed nothing and negotiations were still continuing to find a solution.Basildon Council said Ms Redgrave's visit changed nothing and negotiations were still continuing to find a solution.
Home Secretary Theresa May said the court process had been exhausted and so the government would support the council in carrying out its decisions. A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: "The British courts have found that the developments at Dale Farm are in breach of planning law and Basildon Council is within its rights to evict travellers from the site."
A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: "The British courts have found that the developments at Dale Farm are in breach of planning law and Basildon Council is within its rights to evict travellers from the site.
"It has taken 10 years of failed negotiations and legal process to reach this point, and the unprecedented level of unauthorised development on green belt land has severely damaged community relations."
A camp housing 150 activists from across Europe has been set up on the site and they promise to support the travellers through non-violent resistance.A camp housing 150 activists from across Europe has been set up on the site and they promise to support the travellers through non-violent resistance.
Representative Jake Fulton said: "If Dale Farm residents succeed it could offer hope to hundreds, but if they fail it could simply encourage councils to follow the example of Basildon Council."Representative Jake Fulton said: "If Dale Farm residents succeed it could offer hope to hundreds, but if they fail it could simply encourage councils to follow the example of Basildon Council."
Police are prepared for a major operation after eviction notices were served on 52 unauthorised plots following a decade-long planning row.Police are prepared for a major operation after eviction notices were served on 52 unauthorised plots following a decade-long planning row.
A spokeswoman said they would attend any evictions to see that the law was observed by everyone involved.A spokeswoman said they would attend any evictions to see that the law was observed by everyone involved.