Former Dale Farm Travellers lose latest legal bid

From Inside Housing

Travellers occupying an area adjacent to the former Dale Farm site have failed in their latest attempt to avoid being moved on.

The Planning Inspectorate has rejected their request for an appeal of enforcement notices issued by Basildon Council on 24 July. It ruled the applicants had failed to prove they had any interest in the land or right to live there.

The Travellers now have until 29 September to leave the area.

Council leader Tony Ball said: ‘These enforcement notices were served to ensure the law is complied with. If there is no compliance by 29 September then the council will take appropriate action.’

The Travellers said they are now considering a judicial review of the rejection of their case for an appeal.

The Dale Farm site was cleared in October last year, in a high-profile operation involving police and bailiffs working for the council.

The Travellers who are now occupying the road that runs to the site, Oak Lane, claim they have nowhere else to go.

The council argues they have no right to occupy the area, and claims many of the Travellers who are now present were not residents of the Dale Farm site.