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Dale Farm: Time for talks over, says council boss | Dale Farm: Time for talks over, says council boss |
(about 2 hours later) | |
As bailiffs prepare to clear the UK's largest illegal travellers' site at Dale Farm in Essex, residents have been told: "The time for talking is over." | As bailiffs prepare to clear the UK's largest illegal travellers' site at Dale Farm in Essex, residents have been told: "The time for talking is over." |
Basildon Council leader Tony Ball confirmed negotiations had ended and that evictions were now imminent. | Basildon Council leader Tony Ball confirmed negotiations had ended and that evictions were now imminent. |
Travellers locked down the Dale Farm site on Tuesday and some threatened to chain themselves to barricades. | Travellers locked down the Dale Farm site on Tuesday and some threatened to chain themselves to barricades. |
Gratton Puxon, from the Gypsy Council, said: "We have no option now but to resist." | Gratton Puxon, from the Gypsy Council, said: "We have no option now but to resist." |
On Tuesday, Basildon Council officials met travellers at the police compound at Barleylands near the site, but the talks broke down after 10 minutes. | On Tuesday, Basildon Council officials met travellers at the police compound at Barleylands near the site, but the talks broke down after 10 minutes. |
Protesters then wedged two cars and a Russian military truck behind the entrance to Dale Farm and said three people would chain themselves to the gate at dawn on Wednesday. | Protesters then wedged two cars and a Russian military truck behind the entrance to Dale Farm and said three people would chain themselves to the gate at dawn on Wednesday. |
'Millions wasted' | 'Millions wasted' |
Mr Puxon said the council was unwilling to negotiate and was "mustering police and bailiffs" to begin the eviction at 08:30 BST on Wednesday. | Mr Puxon said the council was unwilling to negotiate and was "mustering police and bailiffs" to begin the eviction at 08:30 BST on Wednesday. |
He added: "The council is going to make families homeless without providing any alternative. Millions of pounds will be wasted. | He added: "The council is going to make families homeless without providing any alternative. Millions of pounds will be wasted. |
"We have no option now but to resist the eviction and we hope to do that in a peaceful manner, if the bailiffs allow us to." | "We have no option now but to resist the eviction and we hope to do that in a peaceful manner, if the bailiffs allow us to." |
Mr Ball refused to say when evictions would begin, but said: "The time for talking is over. We have given the travellers every chance to leave peacefully and they have not taken it. | Mr Ball refused to say when evictions would begin, but said: "The time for talking is over. We have given the travellers every chance to leave peacefully and they have not taken it. |
"Now our job is to clear the site in a safe and humane manner. My biggest fear is that somebody - be it a bailiff, a police officer, a traveller or a supporter - gets hurt. | "Now our job is to clear the site in a safe and humane manner. My biggest fear is that somebody - be it a bailiff, a police officer, a traveller or a supporter - gets hurt. |
"I would call on those inside Dale Farm to behave sensibly and responsibly." | |
Several caravans had been crammed on to the few plots that the bailiffs cannot touch, a spokesman for the residents said. | Several caravans had been crammed on to the few plots that the bailiffs cannot touch, a spokesman for the residents said. |
The number of supporters inside the site has fallen from more than 100 a month ago to fewer than 50. | The number of supporters inside the site has fallen from more than 100 a month ago to fewer than 50. |
A similar number of travellers remain in their homes. | A similar number of travellers remain in their homes. |
On Monday, residents were refused permission to appeal against a High Court ruling giving Basildon Council the go-ahead to evict them. | On Monday, residents were refused permission to appeal against a High Court ruling giving Basildon Council the go-ahead to evict them. |
Travellers had asked for leave to appeal against a decision to allow the council to clear 49 plots. | Travellers had asked for leave to appeal against a decision to allow the council to clear 49 plots. |
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