I'll sell my farm to travellers (From Echo)

I'll sell my farm to travellers

2:51pm Friday 9th May 2008 in

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A SCRAP boss has warned a huge traveller site could be built in a beauty spot if councillors continue to try and close his business.

Dean Fewings, 41, runs a breakers and vehicle repair yard in Pudsey Hall Lane, Canewdon, and was given six months to shut down after losing an appeal this week.

Mr Fewings, who once farmed the land at the site, vowed to appeal the Planning Inspectorate decision, but warned if he is forced to close then he would sell the land to travellers.

He described how his godfather Ray Bocking, 67, ran a scrapyard at Dale Farm, Crays Hill, but sold the land to Irish travellers in 2001, because Basildon Council closed his business in a similar way.

After Mr Bocking's contract ended, he warned he would have no choice but to sell. He did and Dale Farm - now Europe's biggest illegal traveller site - was developed.

Mr Fewings said: "Rochford Council is putting me in the same position. If they force the situation they will end up with another Dale Farm, because the demand is there from travellers.

"Ninety five per cent of my customers are travellers."

Travellers already live on part of his farm - although the planning inspector ruled all but two families must go.

Mr Fewings accepted Pudsey Hall Farm was not suitable for the amount of scrap he deals with - up to 500 tonnes of iron a week - but said he had tried to find alternative sites and the council would not discuss it.

He claims many of the residents in Pudsey Hall Lane support him.

He said: "The council just wants me out. I believe it is because it wants my land to develop. It was considering using compulsory purchase orders."

Rochford Council said it would not bow to Mr Fewing's "threat" and would take all action possible to prevent more traveller sites being developed at Pudsey Hall Farm.

Council leader Terry Cutmore said it was not the first time the scrap boss had made the threat to the council.

He said: "We will use any means at our disposal to stop any development."

If Mr Fewings sold the land to travellers, legally they would need planning permission to develop a site, but at Dale Farm the site was developed without permission.