The row over the
illegal traveller sites at Crays Hill and Wickford rumbles on:
A total of 38 families from both sites have so far made homelessness applications.
On the grounds that if they get evicted, they will stick the council tax payers with yet another bill…
Basildon Council has offered to house 11 traveller families facing eviction from illegal sites at Crays Hill and Wickford.
The council is still considering a further 19 homelessness applications from families at the controversial Dale Farm and Hovefields camps.
And being handed a free house on the taxpayer still isn’t enough for some:
The decisions have already triggered another round of legal clashes between travellers and the council.
Three of the families offered traditional housing have appealed, saying they need an alternative caravan pitch, because of an aversion to bricks-and-mortar accommodation.
Say what?!
These include John and Barbara Sheridan, sister of Dale Farm spokesman Richard Sheridan.
Although Mrs Sheridan was listed on the electoral roll for an ex-council property in Wolverhampton, owned by her father, between 2001 and 2002, she argues she cannot return to conventional housing.
And believe it or not, she may well win…
Grattan Puxon, a campaigner for Dale Farm, said: “We expect John Sheridan’s case to be the first to go up against the council at Basildon County Court. Papers are being prepared.”
There is case law where county courts have ordered councils elsewhere to find homeless travellers caravan pitches as opposed to homes.
*sigh*
They've got it all sorted out - how to play the system.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. Someone needs to change the rules of the game.
ReplyDeleteI started to write a rant but I really can't be arsed anymore it is so wearing, all of this nonsense.
ReplyDeleteI suppose some of the offered bricks-and-mortar houses will be rejected on the grounds of lack of parking space for a caravan.
ReplyDeleteThe very first question that ANY Authority should ask of Mr and Mrs Traveller is "Could I see your last tax return, please?"
ReplyDeleteNo Tax Return, no chance of any sort of action.
End of.
Thieving bastards, Travellers AND Authorities!
"I suppose some of the offered bricks-and-mortar houses will be rejected on the grounds of lack of parking space for a caravan."
ReplyDeleteHeh! They'll probably save that for the appeal...
"No Tax Return, no chance of any sort of action.
End of."
Ah, but that wouldn't be 'respecting their cultural heritage', you see....