Counting the cost of evicting Crays Hill travellers (From Echo)

Counting the cost of evicting Crays Hill travellers

7:00am Thursday 10th March 2011 in Basildon By Jon Austin

More evictions on the way – police lead away a protester during evictions at the Hovefields travellers site, near Wickford

“IT WILL be an operation of unprecedented scale, risk and complexity and is beyond the normal business of any council.”

This paragraph from the agenda for next Monday’s council meeting gives a clue to the magnitude of the planned eviction of travellers from their Crays Hill site.

The report lays bare, for the first time, the detailed planning between Basildon Council, police, Essex County Council, the fire service, lawyers and health bosses, all of who are already running up their own additional, largely undisclosed, costs.

The council estimates up to 400 people will have to be removed from Dale Farm.

As soon as the operation is complete, a whole new set of costs will present themselves for new homes, schools and health services for evicted travellers.

So meticulous has been the planning, it has even budgeted for equalities training for bailiffs, to avoid falling foul of human rights’ legislation during the operation.

All council staff on site will also be trained.

The report to the council meeting, prepared by Tory council leader Tony Ball and senior officials, said: “The planning has taken many months involving all partner agencies.

“The direct operation is likely to take at least six to eight weeks. The subsequent impact on resources is likely to be significant, but is impossible to quantify with precision.

“Extensive work has been carried out on planning.

“The costs identified, however, can still only be treated as indicative due to the complex nature of the operation.”

The report warns unforeseen events, health and safety measures and bad weather could all affect the total bill.

The costs are so high the council is concerned it may not be able to deliver all normal services during and after the eviction. Not only has the council had to look at dismantling 51 caravan pitches at Dale Farm – a £2.2million cost through bailiffs Constant & Co – it has to prepare for the after effects, including preventing further illegal occupation of nearby land.

The council gave an undertaking to the High Court it would also ensure evicted families can still access schools and health services. Essex County Council and NHS South West Essex will bear these costs.

Basildon Council will also have to rehouse many of the travellers affected and is setting aside £1million for this.

Officials have also allocated £100,000 for a temporary advice and liaison service, directing evicted travellers to where they can access services.

Demolishing Dale Farm involves removing mobile homes and caravans, plus all wash rooms, outbuildings, fences and all concrete and block paving.

It will then be ringed by a barrier of earth to prevent reoccupation.

All travellers’ personal possessions, including animals, may have to be taken to safe storage, where they can be subsequently collected by owners.

Apart from the travellers, the council expects large numbers of protesters and campaigners to descend on the camp.

The report says: “Indications are there will be a significant presence of other protesters, some of whom have no connection with the site or indeed the travellers.”

This has prompted Essex Police to estimate costs of about £12million to police the operation.

The force can afford £3million, but wants the remaining £9.2million from the Government. If it is not approved, the council is refusing to chip in.

Other agencies including Essex Fire and Rescue Service, NHS South West Essex and East of England Ambulance Service will largely pay their own costs.

However, in some cases they can bill Basildon Council, which is why its overall costs have soared.

The fire service intends charging the council £50,000 for the use of “specialist” fire engines. The ambulance service will foot most of its bill, but is allowed to charge the council an estimated £200,000 to cover additional costs.

Basildon Council hopes to set aside another £1.5million to pay experts in contingency planning to ensure all possibilities are prepared for and there is money should things go wrong.

An additional £1.5million will cover legal action to try to prevent travellers moving on to council-owned land or pieces of green belt owned by members of the community in Billericay and Crays Hill.

It will also cover any legal challenges or compensation claims from families and the restoration of Dale Farm to green belt.

Road closures will be necessary in Crays Hill throughout.

Mr Ball told the Echo all costings were worst case scenarios and estimated.

He added: “We had to make sure every possible outcome was considered and the money was there if needed.

“We have done this to try to avoid having to go back to full council to release more money should problems arise during the eviction.”