From the Sun
HE was one of the biggest opponents of the infamous Dale Farm Gypsy camp.
But in an amazing U-turn, Len Gridley has become the travellers’ greatest ally.
He is so fed up with the state of the abandoned site in Crays Hill, Essex, that he is considering GIFTING the Travellers his land for a Dale Farm “100 times bigger”.
A year on from the £7million eviction, the 6.5-acre parcel of land is littered with rotting rubbish and dangerous debris.
Neighbour Len says: “It’s disgusting, a complete disgrace. I wish they’d never got rid of the Gypsies.
“At least the site was cared for — they had gardens and looked after the place.”
Basildon Council had promised to return it to greenbelt land.
Property developer Len, whose garden backs on to the land, says: “The council say they can’t do anything because they don’t own the land and it will cost £35million to put right.
“But they never said that before they went storming in.”
Standing near a pit where the smell of human waste is overpowering, Len says: “Now look at it, it’s being used as an open toilet.
“The smell of waste in my garden is awful. I can no longer use the garden or have my windows open.
“My place is completely overrun by rats. It’s a hell hole.
“Now I have an amazing plan of revenge if nothing is done.
“I am going to move abroad and give my land and assets to the Gypsies so they can build a new, huge Dale Farm.
“I have loads of land in Basildon. I want them to build a Dale Farm 100 times bigger.”
The Travellers set up camp illegally ten years ago after buying the former scrap metal yard, which is next to a legal Travellers’ site.
A battle spiralled all the way to the European Court of Human Rights and finally ended last October when bailiffs and riot cops stormed into the camp at 5am and evicted more than 100 Travellers.
At the time, Basildon Council leader Tony Ball strode around the site claiming a huge victory.
But Len, 53, says: “I’d like to see him come down here now.
“What exactly have they achieved? Nothing. It is much, much worse now than it was before.
“Do I regret getting rid of them? Hell, yes!”
There are still Dale Farm Gypsies at the site — now camped in a line of caravans on the lane leading up to it.
Norah Sheridan, 40, has been there for 12 months.
She said: “We have nothing. No lighting, no heating, nothing to cook on and no toilets.
“There are old, young, ill — all sorts. Life is hell here. I won’t go and look at the site. It’s heartbreaking.”
But David McPherson-Davis, a parish councillor for the area, says the council were right to act on a “major flouting” of planning law.
If they hadn’t “a lot more of these sites” would have sprung up.
Last week a team from the Environment Agency took away samples from Dale Farm to test.
Fed-up Len insists: “I hope they find something toxic so the council are forced to act.
“If they don’t, I am going to take legal action against the council myself and try to force them to return the land to greenbelt.”
Cllr Ball had told The Sun this month the land is still owned by the Travellers and the council is working through the legal and planning process.
Timeline
2001: Traveller John Sheridan buys land. Gypsies sweep in. Basildon Council serves enforcement notice.
JULY 2011: After Travellers’ human rights appeals fail, eviction notices order 90 families out by August 31.
SEPTEMBER 2011: High Court rules council cannot use “physical measures” to clear site.
OCTOBER 3 2011: Judge rules council can remove 49 of 54 plots. Travellers fight back, citing human rights infringements.
OCTOBER 12 2011: Judge rules against the travellers.
OCTOBER 19 2011: Site’s electricity cut and riot police move in to evict.
OCTOBER 20 2011: Remaining Travellers leave the site.
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