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Updated: Travellers theme park demo
7:08am Friday 1st June 2007
CAMPAIGNERS from the Crays Hill traveller site turned up outside a theme park - to stage an anti-eviction protest.
A coachload of about 50 travellers from the Dale Farm camp, in Oak Lane, Crays Hill, went to the Diggerland theme park in Strood, Kent to demonstrate against moves to shift them from plots they are unlawfully occupying.
The novel theme park - which offers visitors a chance to drive real-life diggers - is a sister company to HE Services Plant Hire, whose machinery has been used in past traveller evictions.
Diggerland was yesterday packed with families enjoying the half-term break when the travellers showed up.
Their protest, at the park's main entrance, involved a mock eviction, with traveller children in cardboard bulldozers and houses. Supporters' banners read: "We mothers of Dale Farm appeal to Mr Edeleanu (Diggerland chairman Hugh Edeleanu) not to hire out his diggers to bulldoze our homes."
Campaigner Grattan Puxon said: "The protest is to call on HE Services to stop hiring its equipment. It is ironic the company promotes a family theme park, while hiring equipment for destroying families' homes."
Site spokesman Richard Sheridan added: "Let's hope they get the message.
"The bottom line is this: Leaving us be would save £50million - the cost of future roadside evictions if we are forced out."
The travellers handed over a letter, urging Mr Edeleanu to veto the use of his firm's equipment for future evictions.
Pam Dury, a director of HE Services, said Constant & Co, the firm of bailiffs employed to carry out the evictions, did not have an account with her company. It must have hired the equipment through a third party, she surmised.
"Our equipment can be used in construction, roadworks or demolition," she added.
"Our account holders are vetted, but we are not always aware what work will be carried out."
The Dale Farm travellers are living in fear of imminent eviction from part of the site. Recent legal advice suggested 11 of the 50-plus plots were not protected by a High Court injunction.
Councillors will vote on the evictions next Tuesday.
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John, My Desk says...
11:40am Thu 31 May 07
paddyman, says...
11:42am Thu 31 May 07
Vernon, Basildon says...
1:23pm Thu 31 May 07
Peter, Southend-on-Sea says...
1:25pm Thu 31 May 07
Basildon Billy, says...
1:28pm Thu 31 May 07
Nobby, Billericay says...
2:06pm Thu 31 May 07
They know what they are doing and they know we cannot do diddley until our soft-arsed, so called political representatives take action.
paddyman, says...
5:30pm Thu 31 May 07
Nobby wrote:john baron conservative mp for the crays hill area has tried twice to get a new bill through parliament regarding this very issue, only for this english hating foreigner loving government to talk it out .
All this rhetoric is a complete waste of time. Travellers, by their very nature, are Opportunists & Chancers and are using our Laws to their advantage. In Ireland, the law was changed to change illegal land occupation from a civil to a criminal offence. This gave the police the authority to move 'squatters' on within 48 hours. So what happened? Most of them moved here to 'extract the Michael' out of our communities. The answer is easy; change the law. But who is campaigning for this. Nobody, thats who! They know what they are doing and they know we cannot do diddley until our soft-arsed, so called political representatives take action.
its the fault of this government this debacle has been allowed to continue all this time.
FJ, Billericay says...
10:51am Fri 1 Jun 07
Nobby, Billericay says...
11:30am Fri 1 Jun 07
Tony Montana, says...
2:45pm Fri 1 Jun 07
paddyman, says...
4:50pm Fri 1 Jun 07
musings., LEIGH says...
5:02pm Fri 1 Jun 07
paddyman, says...
5:05pm Fri 1 Jun 07
Daisy, says...
5:40pm Fri 1 Jun 07
paddyman, says...
6:58pm Fri 1 Jun 07
Daisy wrote:daisy you thick fool they own the ground they are on, they just dont have permission to live on it,so why dont you and all the other racsits try and buy it off them
Damm was this visit of theirs public knowledge before hand? i mean if we had have known they were all going to be out for the day we could hae evicted them and claimed back land from them :o)
Ethan, UK says...
12:32am Sat 2 Jun 07
sexy essex girl, basildon says...
12:57am Sat 2 Jun 07
sexy essex girl, basildon says...
12:58am Sat 2 Jun 07
paddyman wrote:paddyman you must be irish because the things you say are thick
i deal with the irish all the time and i hope they win the day
dave, local says...
6:56am Sat 2 Jun 07
Plotlander, Essex says...
9:37am Sat 2 Jun 07
Anonymous, Wickford says...
10:21am Sat 2 Jun 07
me, here says...
1:37pm Sat 2 Jun 07
sexy essex girl wrote:If you are going to call other people stupid get your spelling and grammar sorted! It is you're short for you are! And as for your foul comments earlier saying Paddyman must be Irish because he is thick,I think you are thick as well as racist.
your all stupid
Lisa Jensen, says...
6:12pm Sat 2 Jun 07
paddyman, says...
6:47pm Sat 2 Jun 07
the party in crays hill is already booked to celebrate their eviction .
and the more force needed the better we want to see them ponces suffer.
Lisa Jensen, says...
7:51pm Sat 2 Jun 07
paddyman wrote:So glad you are pleased to have me back Paddyman. I know more than I like to let on, but we'll save that for another time.... You need to work out who's side you are on, seeing as you used to live with them, allegedly.....
i see the peoples crusader is back with all her bull5hit and crap , ranting on about something she knows nothing about, apart from one cuppa with the squaters. the party in crays hill is already booked to celebrate their eviction . and the more force needed the better we want to see them ponces suffer.
nobby, Billericay says...
8:26pm Sat 2 Jun 07
Lisa Jensen, says...
10:30pm Sat 2 Jun 07
nobby wrote:There is nothing racist about not wanting those sort of people here Nobby, that is not the issue. The issue is the way people portray there views, while we are all aware that there are people of all cultures and nationalities that basically take the p1ss and scrounge, it is not right to single out these people using there colour, creed, nationality or whatever. It is discrimination, the defintion being, treatment or cosideration of, or making a distinction in favour of or against a person based on the group, class, creed or category to which that person belongs too rather than on that individual or individuals merit.
Can someone please explain, in very simple terms, what is racist about not wanting Ponces, Scroungers, Spongers, Opportunists & Lawbreakers in our communities whatever their creed or nationality.
Nobby, Billericay says...
11:43pm Sat 2 Jun 07
Lisa Jensen, says...
11:51pm Sat 2 Jun 07
Vernon wrote:Legal aid is something that people are entitled to if there income falls under a certain level, doesnt matter where they are from or what type of community they live in, if they fall below this level then that is the legal entitlement. It is not about pride or even being poor. This kind of attitude doesnt help the cause at all.
Dear Mr Puxon, why are you applying for legal aid?Surely the people you represent have some pride!They certainly are not poor.Your action just clarifies what a lot of people believe about the residents of Dale Farm
Bored, says...
12:18am Sun 3 Jun 07
Bill, says...
3:29pm Sun 3 Jun 07
The Truth, Grays says...
7:02pm Sun 3 Jun 07
I am P***** O** about this big time
tina, basildon says...
7:08pm Sun 3 Jun 07
Bored, says...
8:01pm Sun 3 Jun 07
Lisa Jensen, says...
9:41pm Sun 3 Jun 07
Bored wrote:These people? These people as you call them are human beings that have purchased the land that they occupy.... The land was a bloody scrapyard full of cars before they moved onto it, how is that classified as greenbelt? Why is the rich businessman who brought greenbelt land a few weeks ago allowed to apply for planning permission then? They are not hurting anyone living there, they have the children settled in local schools and all have a local connection now, so guess what? Chuck off the families and the local council has a duty under current legislation to rehouse them, what happens then?
If they are unlawfully occupying plots why do you think it is ok for them to be there?. I don't understand why you stick up for these people.
Lisa Jensen, says...
9:44pm Sun 3 Jun 07
The Truth wrote:So what if you own this that and the other. Does that make you any better than anyone else then? No it doesn't, it just makes you more fortunate then others. Get over yourself mate, if you really are half romany then you should understand about discrimination and be a more understanding figure rather than spouting hatred.
When will people stop calling these Paddy's Travellers or Romany they are about as much a traveller or Romany as Bin Laden, They are scum driven out of southern ireland and buying up orchards and grazing land thinking they can live there, sorry scum we don't want you no more than all the other migrants invading us, best thing to do is go home stop sponging and thieving from us, this area was a very nice place to live before the mass immigration, The true Romany people and the Showmen are great people please stop reffering to this scum in there name, and yes you guessed it i am half Romany half Cockney and own my own home and work as a business manager and pay higher rate tax probably more than most of the scum reading this when they get there dole money, get your facts straight before printing this rubbish and bad mouthing a decent race of people and they are not Paddys. I am P***** O** about this big time
tina, basildon says...
9:55pm Sun 3 Jun 07
Bored, says...
10:42am Mon 4 Jun 07
Lisa Jensen wrote:Yes, 'these people', What else do you refer to them as?, the illegal residents of Dale Farm. They are not meant to be living there full stop!. Ok so they purchased the land that was once a scrapyard, big deal, at least the scrapyard served a purpose which is more than these Irish travellers do. As for they are not hurting anyone, come off it, do they go around with a halo above their heads?, do you mean to tell me none of them have ever ripped anyone off?. As for that old boring typical statement, "the children are settled in school", what about the children that were taken out of the school because of them?, they were settled there too once. And I tell you what should happen regarding re housing, they should ALL be sent back to Ireland pronto, why should 'we' foot the bill to have them re housed. They don't want to live in a house anyway because then they would have to start paying proper bills like the rest of us.
Bored wrote: If they are unlawfully occupying plots why do you think it is ok for them to be there?. I don't understand why you stick up for these people.These people? These people as you call them are human beings that have purchased the land that they occupy.... The land was a bloody scrapyard full of cars before they moved onto it, how is that classified as greenbelt? Why is the rich businessman who brought greenbelt land a few weeks ago allowed to apply for planning permission then? They are not hurting anyone living there, they have the children settled in local schools and all have a local connection now, so guess what? Chuck off the families and the local council has a duty under current legislation to rehouse them, what happens then?
Nobby, Billericay says...
12:11pm Mon 4 Jun 07
Doug, Wakering says...
12:57pm Mon 4 Jun 07
Irrespective of the legality of their current living arrangements, this story appears to be about a small group of people whose current homes are in danger of destruction by a company who have a reputation for (shall we say) heavy-handedness in their evictions.
So they had a small, peaceful demonstration to show their dissatisfaction at the way they feel they have been treated, and perhaps wanted to show the people using this (rather bizarre) theme park that the diggers they find such fun are also used to bulldoze people's homes.
Their spokesman set out in clear terms why they are there, and the company involved seem to have found themselves unable to respond in any more detail than "what, me guv?"
All fair enough I suppose, and nothing particularly controversial.
So can someone please explain to me why a small group of people in a peaceful demonstration - only two of whom are named, and clearly many of whom are children - should be considered to be ALL driving "suspect transit vans", thieves of heavy plant and machinery, fair targets for the Army's tanks, and (this one comes up quite often) "scum". Do the people making these comments have access to the identities and criminal records of these demonstrators, or are they just peddling neo-racist stereotypes? I would love to know what possible contribution is made by shouting "scum" at families trying to save their homes, again regardless of what their legal status is.
From reading this page I'd say the Dale Farm folks have come out of this quite well - they have shown that they can go and make their case without violence or abuse, but by making reasoned argument. On the other hand, there would appear to be a significant minority of local (and not so local) people intent on causing friction and stirring up tensions by the use of racist epithets, groundless accusations and threats. Given that stereotyping groups of people is becoming more commonplace on this site, would it be acceptable for me to join in by branding all these posters as racists, fascists, and mindless chav louts? Somehow I doubt it.
Perhaps I've missed something. I was under the impression that Irish people were part of the same species as me. Was I mistaken? Last time I read about ethnic and cultural groups being labelled as sub-human scum, some six million of them were exterminated en masse.
The Vicar, says...
1:41pm Mon 4 Jun 07
Why did the Irish Government pass a law to stop such illegal squatting by their OWN people?
Doug, Wakering says...
2:35pm Mon 4 Jun 07
And I fail to see how they are being treated differently, either. They've been served with an eviction notice and have appealed, just like anyone else can.
It's hard to see how anyone who is facing having their home bulldozed can be accused of receiving preferential treatment! :)
The Vicar, says...
4:52pm Mon 4 Jun 07
And they are being treated differently to everyone else and that's obvious.
They've been given a lot more slack than any one else who would have appealed. How many public meetings, appeals have they been given. Would anyone else have been given the same? I don't think so.
If they weren't being treated differently then it wouldn't be up to Ruth Kelly to make the final decision would it?
I can't feel very sorry for them because they knew what they were doing was wrong.
They thought they could get some land cheap and build a village on it.
That's just wrong and if they weren't classed as a "minority" the place would have been bulldozed years ago.
I see lots wrong here.
Bored, says...
5:42pm Mon 4 Jun 07
Joe, says...
6:04pm Mon 4 Jun 07
Bored, says...
6:24pm Mon 4 Jun 07
Joe wrote:I agree, it doesn't matter who they are, they are still breaking the law by living there. But the fact of the matter is, they ARE Irish travellers at the site in question.
Irish "travellers" are no different from new age "travellers", they are just people breaking the law.
paddyman, says...
8:59pm Mon 4 Jun 07
oakroader, oak road says...
9:42pm Mon 4 Jun 07
lets stick to the facts.
since these people moved in here the village properties are virtually unsaleable.
the local school has become almost derelict with the highest absenteeism in essex.
almost impossible to get a taxi to pick you up.
if your services need repairing they wont attend unless the police are present .
kids who look no more than 12 or 13 racing vans and cars up the lane.
being constantly abused by irish accented people.
and us the taxpayers paying for their applications and appeals to stay on land illegaly, which runs into several million pounds.
i could go on more but i think thats enough.
so if all you dogooders who keep supporting these illegal landgrabbers could live with that then please let me know.
Lisa Jensen, says...
10:17pm Mon 4 Jun 07
oakroader wrote:I could not live with most of it, but then hey we all know that most of it doesnt bloody go on. I can prove, yes prove that people from the village were dumping rubbish and blaming them, I will have in a few days the photographic evidence in my hands. They brought the land fair and square. Oh and the local school is empty of non travelling kids... Why? Because narrow minded negative people took there own children out by choice, thus teaching the kids to be bigots in themselves.
I have never read so much ill informed crap in all my life. lets stick to the facts. since these people moved in here the village properties are virtually unsaleable. the local school has become almost derelict with the highest absenteeism in essex. almost impossible to get a taxi to pick you up. if your services need repairing they wont attend unless the police are present . kids who look no more than 12 or 13 racing vans and cars up the lane. being constantly abused by irish accented people. and us the taxpayers paying for their applications and appeals to stay on land illegaly, which runs into several million pounds. i could go on more but i think thats enough. so if all you dogooders who keep supporting these illegal landgrabbers could live with that then please let me know.
Nobby, Billericay says...
11:36pm Mon 4 Jun 07
oakroader, oak road says...
11:52pm Mon 4 Jun 07
Lisa Jensen wrote:are you callimg me a liar you stupid woman , i have lived with these pi55 takers for the last 5 odd years . so dont tell me this doesnt go on when ive seen it all with my own eyes.and the reason the locals dont send their kids there is that it was impossible for them to get an education, not narrow minded bigots.
oakroader wrote: I have never read so much ill informed crap in all my life. lets stick to the facts. since these people moved in here the village properties are virtually unsaleable. the local school has become almost derelict with the highest absenteeism in essex. almost impossible to get a taxi to pick you up. if your services need repairing they wont attend unless the police are present . kids who look no more than 12 or 13 racing vans and cars up the lane. being constantly abused by irish accented people. and us the taxpayers paying for their applications and appeals to stay on land illegaly, which runs into several million pounds. i could go on more but i think thats enough. so if all you dogooders who keep supporting these illegal landgrabbers could live with that then please let me know.I could not live with most of it, but then hey we all know that most of it doesnt bloody go on. I can prove, yes prove that people from the village were dumping rubbish and blaming them, I will have in a few days the photographic evidence in my hands. They brought the land fair and square. Oh and the local school is empty of non travelling kids... Why? Because narrow minded negative people took there own children out by choice, thus teaching the kids to be bigots in themselves.
how would you feel if you had a house that was worth only a third of its value due to those bits of crap.
still if what i was told a couple of weeks ago we will all be waving them off soon and the quicker the better.
what does amaze me with you dogooding left thinking gullible fools uis that not one of you live in the vicinity of crays hill.
perhaps if you had them on your door step you might think a bit different.
Doug, Wakering says...
8:32am Tue 5 Jun 07
I've seen the records of house prices in the village you claim to live in. A 66% reduction in price is an exaggeration of epic proportions, and sheds a little light on how accurate your other claims might be.
You do yourself no favours with that kind of attitude - and it makes me wonder which people in the village are the real trouble-makers.
oakroader, oak road says...
8:35am Tue 5 Jun 07
if all you can come up with is that you dont have much of an arguement do you.
been reading some of your posts havent laughed so much in ages, so youve had a cup of tea with them , that makes you an expert does it,i know your sort always wants to fight for the so called victim, well these arent victims their cash rich liberty takers , the residents of crays hill are the victims here.
i have been to all the meetings , have you !.
i have seen these people run out of meetings when they have been faced with the truth as they were proved lying about having nowhere else to reside.
they all have houses elsewhere, wolverhampton they are still registered there and thats a fact, rathkeale they all have houses there, smithy fen cambridgeshire the same names are all registered there.
so when you start an arguement for a lost cause you should get all your facts right not argue on some misguide notion which you want to believe,
do you really believe that when you have your little cups of tea with them they are telling you the truth ! they have been lying on their applications and at the meetings for the last five years, so why should you be any different.
if you want to fight for a cause you should find one worth fighting for and not one which is tainted by greed and lies.
why dont you ask them why dont they purchase houses that are on the normal property market. cant find them for 20 grand thats why, if they can afford 20 to 30 grand for these illegal plots why cant they use that as a deposit on an existing property,because they will have to pay a mortgage and thats not profitable to them.so get some of your facts straight before you start arguing you gullible idiot.
tina, basildon says...
8:55am Tue 5 Jun 07
tina, basildon says...
9:07am Tue 5 Jun 07
Doug, Wakering says...
10:02am Tue 5 Jun 07
I notice that over 75% of his/her post is actually having a go at other posters, name-calling, all the usual stuff... reminds me of someone else who went missing from this site recently, as it happens.
There's no point in trying to have an adult conversation with playground insults. Particularly from someone who claims you are motivated by greed and lies, and in the same breath whines about their property value going down 10 times more than it actually has!
At least with the Vicar you can have a proper debate if you disagree.
jev, canvey says...
11:34am Thu 31 May 07