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Traveller claims bunglow went unnoticed for 18 years

7:23am Friday 29th February 2008

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A TRAVELLER is claiming his bungalow - built close to the Dale Farm campsite at Crays Hill - has been there for the best part of 20 years.

The claims came to light after Basildon Council officials launched an urgent investigation into the bungalow's status, prompted by a query about the site by the Echo.

Earlier this week, we alerted the council to hardcore being laid on green belt land next to the bungalow site, which is between the traveller camp in Oak Lane, and the A127.

Traveller Sam Vinden, 37, has since submitted a planning application to keep the bungalow - claiming it has been there for many years.

Echo checks have found Mr Vinden already has a legitimate home elsewhere.

He won a planning appeal, last February, when a Government inspector allowed him, his wife and children to remain in a caravan on an unauthorised pitch in New Park Road, Hockley.

Mr Vinden also paid an undisclosed sum for the strip of land, near Dale Farm, Crays Hill, in May 2006, using his Hockley address to register the purchase.

Mr Vinden has told the Echo the bungalow has been there for 18 years.

He has applied for permission to stay, using gipsy campaigner Dr Donald Kenrick as his planning agent.

Under planning law, if it can be proved an unauthorised development has gone unnoticed by planners for four years or more, the owner can apply a Lawful Development Certificate, allowing them to stay.

Mr Vinden's application claims he has been on the site for more than four years.

However, council leader Malcolm Buckley said officers believed there had recent unauthorised development on the site.

There was also evidence of bonfires and the removal of trees.

In 1993, an application for a traveller pitch on the site was refused and the occupant was ordered off.

After that, planning officials believed the site had been cleared.

Mr Buckley added: "The new application will have to be considered on its merits."


Your Say YourEcho

Vernon, Basildon says...
4:43pm Fri 29 Feb 08

Have'nt the relevant authority had a gander on Google Earth? thats about 5 years out of date, might help!

Jo, Basildon says...
4:47pm Fri 29 Feb 08

The aerial photos taken of the site over the last several years should provide evidence of the bungalow's existence - or not.

Vernon, Basildon says...
4:55pm Fri 29 Feb 08

Anyone care to share their views on the story about £3m worth of cocaine at the travellers site? That'll explain the top of the range Mercs on the site, I knew there could'nt be that much money in artifice crime and poor quality block paving

Andrew, Wickford says...
8:13pm Fri 29 Feb 08

We now know the Dale farm Irish tax dodgers are involved in serious drug trafficking. They own homes in Ireland, they are building illegally on greenbelt land.

When are Essex/Basildon councils going to get some backbone, send in the bulldozers and send these parasites back to Ireland?

Peter, Billericay says...
8:22pm Fri 29 Feb 08

Vernon wrote:
Anyone care to share their views on the story about £3m worth of cocaine at the travellers site? That'll explain the top of the range Mercs on the site, I knew there could'nt be that much money in artifice crime and poor quality block paving
Hello Vernon
I cannot find this story, have you a hyperlink or something so I can read about this.
Cheers
P

Bozo, Westcliff says...
8:23pm Fri 29 Feb 08

Andrew wrote:
We now know the Dale farm Irish tax dodgers are involved in serious drug trafficking. They own homes in Ireland, they are building illegally on greenbelt land. When are Essex/Basildon councils going to get some backbone, send in the bulldozers and send these parasites back to Ireland?
There not all Irish at Dale Farm are they..

Vernon, Basildon says...
9:08pm Fri 29 Feb 08

Peter wrote:
Vernon wrote: Anyone care to share their views on the story about £3m worth of cocaine at the travellers site? That'll explain the top of the range Mercs on the site, I knew there could'nt be that much money in artifice crime and poor quality block paving
Hello Vernon I cannot find this story, have you a hyperlink or something so I can read about this. Cheers P
http://www.echo-news
.co.uk/news/basildon
news/display.var.207
8545.0.two_jailed_fo
r_3m_cocaine_plot.ph
p

Vernon, Basildon says...
9:10pm Fri 29 Feb 08

Bozo wrote:
Andrew wrote: We now know the Dale farm Irish tax dodgers are involved in serious drug trafficking. They own homes in Ireland, they are building illegally on greenbelt land. When are Essex/Basildon councils going to get some backbone, send in the bulldozers and send these parasites back to Ireland?
There not all Irish at Dale Farm are they..
It was originally settled by gypsies/Romanies, my understanding is that Irish travellers used intimidation to encourage the original occupiers to sell up

Bozo, Westcliff says...
9:17pm Fri 29 Feb 08

I was talking by chance to a couple from there yesterday, they told me they dont associate with the Irish and keep themselves to themselves.

Rach, Rayleigh says...
10:11pm Fri 29 Feb 08

I know the Vindens well and they're lovely! They're certainly not involved in drugs in anyway!
Hope things are looking up for you Sam, and send my best to S x

Council tax payer, Basildon says...
10:28pm Fri 29 Feb 08

Well that should indeed qualify Mr Vinden to make a sizeable back payment on Council Tax over a lengthly period since the bungalow has been there for at least eighteen years or so?
If the proverbial 'boot' were on the other foot and anyone else witheld their council tax they would undoubtedly be penalised , besides the outstanding revenue would be helpful in making a substantial contribution to the proposed legal sites the Council is offering to build!

Vernon, Basildon says...
8:30am Sat 1 Mar 08

Rach wrote:
I know the Vindens well and they're lovely! They're certainly not involved in drugs in anyway! Hope things are looking up for you Sam, and send my best to S x
This is how lovely Sam Vinden is! And notice he slips up and his real address is given as opposed to his '18 year old' Dale Farm Bungalow

From the Echo last year:

TWO travellers locked a pair of teenagers inside a barn and carried out a vicious revenge attack with a knife, machete and metal bar , a court was told.

Sam Vinden , 37, and Christopher Line, 24, allegedly meted out the brutal punishment on Kenza Spearman and Michael Colbert, both 18, after Vinden's horse was burnt during an arson attack in its stable in January this year.

The court was told Vinden believed Mr Spearman was responsible for the arson and left the two victims with such horrific injuries a witness later thought they looked like they were going to a Halloween party.

Vinden and Line, both of New Park Road, Hockley , went on trial at Basildon Crown Court yesterday on charges of wounding with intent and false imprisonment, which they deny.

The court was told Vinden, a member of his local Masonic lodge, was "shaking with anger" that someone had hurt his horse, and set about scouring the local area for the culprit.

Prosecuting, Michael Epstein said he was heard saying he was going to put whoever had started the fire "in a body bag".

About 4pm on January 29, it is alleged he lured Mr Spearman - who happened to be with Mr Colbert at the time - to the burnt-out barn in The Paddocks, Hockley.

The court heard the door was locked on the pair and Vinden began yelling: "Who was it?"

He then produced a large metal gate lock and began hitting Mr Spearman and Mr Colbert over the head and face with the weapon.

Mr Epstein said Vinden then took a knife out of his pocket and stabbed Mr Spearman under the arm.

Line then wielded a 50cm-long rusty machete and yelled at Colbert: "I'm going to take your head off." He went on to slash both of the men with the weapon.

Vinden then allegedly made both victims kneel on the floor and went to and fro, slashing their faces one at a time.

The court was told Mr Spearman and Mr Colbert were then bundled into the van they had arrived in and told they were lucky to still be alive. Vinden told them not to tell the police, warning them if they did he would burn their families in their houses and "put you boys in a coffin", Mr Epstein said.

Mr Spearman and Mr Colbert managed to drive away from the barn. One of them dialed 999, but the operator was unable to understand them through their screams of agony.

The injured pair managed to drive a short distance to a cottage in Fambridge Road, where they alerted the resident for help. The man in the cottage said he initially thought they were in Halloween fancy dress because they were so bloodied.

Later that night, Line was seen scrubbing and cleaning the barn. He was later arrested.

Vinden disappeared, but handed himself in to police six weeks later.

The case continues.


Vernon, Basildon says...
8:35am Sat 1 Mar 08

And this is how nice his co accused is.Notice he gives an address at Meadow Lane Traveller site, Has he moved from New Park Road, or is this yet another ruse?

A bogus tsunami charity collector who used the disaster which claimed thousands of lives to make a quick buck has been jailed for 30 months.

Christopher Line, 22, of Meadow Lane, Runwell, Wickford, distributed scores of leaflets around Colchester appealing for donations.

He took advantage of generous people under the guise of fake charity organisation International Direct Relief.

But Line did not make a penny from the scam after an eagle-eyed pensioner contacted Colchester Council because the appeal asked for cash and not cheques.

Police were alerted and when Line was arrested he had the cheek to say "Is this what you get for trying to help people?"

Line made no comment when questioned for three-quarters of an hour by detectives on January 5 and he was later bailed, but he was rearrested on June 1 for a shoplifting offence at B&Q in Romford, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

When officers executed a warrant to search his caravan, they found a sawn-off shotgun with deadly .22 dum-dum cartridges, which expand on impact.
Line, who has a string of convictions for dishonesty stretching back to 1988, admitted two offences of going equipped to cheat, possessing a firearm without a certificate and possessing expanding ammunition.

Judge Andrew Campbell told Line: "You were collecting from people who thought they were contributing to those who had suffered. What you were doing was utterly mean and despicable.

"People who were generous enough to contribute would have been horrified that the money was not going where they thought it was. One result of people dishonestly claiming to be collecting for charity means genuine collectors suffer."

More in today's Evening Gazette


Published Monday, November 7, 2005

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette


Percy J Hood, Basildon says...
9:33am Sat 1 Mar 08

We cannot send them back, they are EU citizens, ask your local MP. shallotman

Bozo, Westcliff says...
11:33am Sat 1 Mar 08

Vernon wrote:
Rach wrote: I know the Vindens well and they're lovely! They're certainly not involved in drugs in anyway! Hope things are looking up for you Sam, and send my best to S x
This is how lovely Sam Vinden is! And notice he slips up and his real address is given as opposed to his '18 year old' Dale Farm Bungalow From the Echo last year: TWO travellers locked a pair of teenagers inside a barn and carried out a vicious revenge attack with a knife, machete and metal bar , a court was told. Sam Vinden , 37, and Christopher Line, 24, allegedly meted out the brutal punishment on Kenza Spearman and Michael Colbert, both 18, after Vinden's horse was burnt during an arson attack in its stable in January this year. The court was told Vinden believed Mr Spearman was responsible for the arson and left the two victims with such horrific injuries a witness later thought they looked like they were going to a Halloween party. Vinden and Line, both of New Park Road, Hockley , went on trial at Basildon Crown Court yesterday on charges of wounding with intent and false imprisonment, which they deny. The court was told Vinden, a member of his local Masonic lodge, was "shaking with anger" that someone had hurt his horse, and set about scouring the local area for the culprit. Prosecuting, Michael Epstein said he was heard saying he was going to put whoever had started the fire "in a body bag". About 4pm on January 29, it is alleged he lured Mr Spearman - who happened to be with Mr Colbert at the time - to the burnt-out barn in The Paddocks, Hockley. The court heard the door was locked on the pair and Vinden began yelling: "Who was it?" He then produced a large metal gate lock and began hitting Mr Spearman and Mr Colbert over the head and face with the weapon. Mr Epstein said Vinden then took a knife out of his pocket and stabbed Mr Spearman under the arm. Line then wielded a 50cm-long rusty machete and yelled at Colbert: "I'm going to take your head off." He went on to slash both of the men with the weapon. Vinden then allegedly made both victims kneel on the floor and went to and fro, slashing their faces one at a time. The court was told Mr Spearman and Mr Colbert were then bundled into the van they had arrived in and told they were lucky to still be alive. Vinden told them not to tell the police, warning them if they did he would burn their families in their houses and "put you boys in a coffin", Mr Epstein said. Mr Spearman and Mr Colbert managed to drive away from the barn. One of them dialed 999, but the operator was unable to understand them through their screams of agony. The injured pair managed to drive a short distance to a cottage in Fambridge Road, where they alerted the resident for help. The man in the cottage said he initially thought they were in Halloween fancy dress because they were so bloodied. Later that night, Line was seen scrubbing and cleaning the barn. He was later arrested. Vinden disappeared, but handed himself in to police six weeks later. The case continues.
Vernon, What was the outcome of these two stories....?

The Truth Seeker, Seeking Truth Everywhere says...
7:57pm Sat 1 Mar 08

A look on Google Earth should show if the bungalow was there.

sweet justice, wickford says...
12:14am Sun 2 Mar 08

Well what do you know, illegal drug trafficking, illegal development of greenbelt in fact anything that is illegal can be carried out by these 'LOVELY' people! What a surprise and there was me thinking that fruit picking and block paving paid so well. Everyone affected by what is going on should unite and force the government to take action to get rid of them.

wtf?, says...
11:48am Mon 3 Mar 08

Vernon wrote:
Peter wrote:
Vernon wrote: Anyone care to share their views on the story about £3m worth of cocaine at the travellers site? That'll explain the top of the range Mercs on the site, I knew there could'nt be that much money in artifice crime and poor quality block paving
Hello Vernon I cannot find this story, have you a hyperlink or something so I can read about this. Cheers P
http://www.echo-news .co.uk/news/basildon news/display.var.207 8545.0.two_jailed_fo r_3m_cocaine_plot.ph p
Thanks for this link, following it and reading the story it is clear that the cocaine criminals were NOT travellers.

Funny how you didn't mention that.

watatwat, cloud 9 says...
1:25pm Mon 3 Mar 08

wtf? wrote:
Vernon wrote:
Peter wrote:
Vernon wrote: Anyone care to share their views on the story about £3m worth of cocaine at the travellers site? That'll explain the top of the range Mercs on the site, I knew there could'nt be that much money in artifice crime and poor quality block paving
Hello Vernon I cannot find this story, have you a hyperlink or something so I can read about this. Cheers P
http://www.echo-news .co.uk/news/basildon news/display.var.207 8545.0.two_jailed_fo r_3m_cocaine_plot.ph p
Thanks for this link, following it and reading the story it is clear that the cocaine criminals were NOT travellers. Funny how you didn't mention that.
Read it again nobhead, where dig the coke come from

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