Basildon: New Traveller Site Approved - Essex

From Heart.co.uk

Traveller families cleared from Dale Farm in Basildon are to get a new site in the town was approved.

15 pitches will be built on land off Gardiners Way and Gardiners Lane South - enough for 15 families, spread over 30 caravans, as well as utility blocks, day rooms, a community garden and building, and a children's play area.

Around 400 people were cleared from Dale Farm in October 2011, signalling the end of a 10 year battle between the Travellers and Basildon Borough Council. At the time the area was the largest illegal travellers site in Europe and the operation to clear it cost more than £7 million.

Some of the families moved on are now living illegally on Oak Lane, a road that leads up the Dale Farm site.

The application for the 15 pitch site was submitted by the Irish Traveller Movement in Britain, who are paying for the development. Yvonne MacNamara from the organisation says it was vital for those families that the application was approved: "Some of these families are living in dire conditions.

"They have no proper sanitation, no running water, children living in awful conditions. This was the right decision."

There have been some concerns about the proposals from people living near the site. In particular, issues were raised about the economic impact it would have on the area with some people worried it would make it difficult to attract new businesses, while others feel enough accomodation for travellers is already provided in the borough.

The Council says: "The Traveller community will be impacted upon should the Council refuse planning permission for this development. It is recognised that Gypsies and Travellers are an ethnic group and therefore are protected under the Equality Act 2010".

Some residents also expressed concerns that illegal Traveller sites may appear next to the legal ones, but Ms MacNamara insists this will not happen: "Our partner is an organisation called Home Space Sustainable Accomodation.

"They will be managing the site and just like any other proper management facility, it will be managed appropriately.

"When they [local residents] see there is well managed site next door to them that anymosity will go.

"We fear what we don't know and many of these local residents don't know who they're gypsy and traveller community are, once they start to know who the community are that anymosity will go."

Development of the area will now go forward and it is anticipated the first families will move onto the site within the next 18 to 24 months.

see also: The BBC - Dale Farm eviction: New Travellers' site in Essex backed

Howe and Co Solicitors - Basildon Council pass Irish Traveller Movement in Britain’s planning application for an innovative new Gypsy and Traveller site.

24dash - Green light given for new Gypsy and Traveller site in Essex