Travellers' centre could be moved to school (From Echo)

Travellers' centre could be moved to school

11:23am Monday 23rd June 2008 in Search

A CONTROVERSIAL community centre put up at Europe's biggest illegal traveller site near Billericay may be moved to the village school.

Essex County Council is in talks about moving a log cabin, put up at Dale Farm without planning permission, to Crays Hill Primary School, where many of the camp's children go.

The unauthorised St Christopher's centre, which doubles up as an IT school and chapel, made headlines after the Echo revealed it had been funded with a £12,000 grant from the county council.

Lord Hanningfield, county council leader, who previously said he would try to get the funding back, said talks were under way with Basildon Council about a new location.

He said: "We are trying to find a suitable place where it could be given planning permission which would be acceptable to both councils.

"The school has been suggested as possibly acceptable to everyone and that would suit me."

Lord Hanningfield said new procedures had now been brought in place to prevent a reoccurrence of money being given ouyt for unautorised developemnts like the centre.

He also said the staff involved in the blunder could face disciplinary action.

Basildon Council leader Malcolm Buckley was adamant the centre could not stay at Dale Farm.

He argued there could be difficulties getting permission elsewhere, because of lack of toilet facilities, but if it goes to the school the county council would make the final decision.

Meanwhile, US human rights volunteer James Dasinger, who was living at Dale Farm and due to teach IT to secondary school children at St Christopher's, has returned to the USA and will not be returning.

Dale Farm campaigner Grattan Puxon said: "He went back to finish his MA and was due to return, but his now concentrating on a career in human rights.

"We still want to get lessons up and running and hope the Advocacy Project are sending over another volunteer, who may be a woman this time.

"There have been some technical problems with the computers, but they are in place.

"There has also been a children's painting competition held there and the women are using it for regular rosary prayer meetings."