12:00am Saturday 25th October 2008
AN ILLEGAL community centre on the Dale Farm travellers’ site will stay for now after the council gave up its fight to remove it.
Basildon councillors voted to remove the log cabin, called St Christopher’s, from the unauthorised Crays Hill site because it has no planning permission.
This was despite the cabin being paid for by a £12,000 Government grant, released by Essex County Council.
A High Court judge issued an injunction to stop the cabin from being taken down, pending a review of the council’s decision.
Councillors have now decided they cannot justify the use of more taxpayers’ money on further court hearings. They hope to remove the building, which is used as a chapel, meeting place, youth club and school, if they are ever allowed to carry out a full-scale eviction of the site.
The council’s eviction battle goes to the Court of Appeal on December 4.
Council leader Malcolm Buckley said: “Following that hearing, the council expects to be in a position to enforce its decision to clear the unauthorised development at Dale Farm.
“The log cabin, being on the site, will be removed as part of the action we will take.
“This will also save the two sets of costs in taking direct action.”
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