Campaigners still think Europe can halt eviction (From Echo)

Campaigners still think Europe can halt Dale Farm eviction

4:00pm Tuesday 7th June 2011 in News By Jon Austin

TRAVELLER campaigners still believe they can stave off the eviction from Dale Farm, with the help of European authorities.

Grattan Puxon, lead campaigner for the site, hopes a new European Union strategy to integrate the continent’s 11 million gipsies could hold up the eviction until other sites are found.

The families are expected to issue another High Court legal challenge once 28-day notices for them to move from the Crays Hill site are served.

Mr Puxon said: “The UK has been given until the end of this year to draw up a national plan to ensure every homeless traveller has access to suitable accommodation.

“Britain will have to submit a ten-year gipsy and traveller integration programme to the European Commission by the end of this year. It will then be assessed annually.”

The travellers have long argued they have nowhere else to go should they be moved from Dale Farm.

The eviction of up to 96 families living on there illegally has moved a step closer after the Home Office agreed to spend £4.65million on helping Essex Police with its cost of enforcing the eviction, which could reach more than £10million.

Basildon Council has already set aside £8million to cover its costs. Malcolm Buckley, councillor responsible for environment, said the Home Office decision to part fund the police costs showed the Government recognises it is a national problem and illegally-built sites will not be tolerated in the wrong locations. The council does not believe the Euro strategy will affect the eviction at Dale Farm.

Mr Puxon has warned that any eviction would see 1,000 protesters descending on a makeshift camp – Camp Constant – next to Dale Farm.

They would try and stop the eviction and have vowed to form a human shield.