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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 bishops | Actress 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 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 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 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: "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. |
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 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. |