7:08am Friday 1st June 2007
By Jon Austin
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.
© Copyright 2001-2010 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.echo-news.co.uk