The aerial and ground shots obtained by the Echo show a large section of a two-acre field in Hovefields, Wickford, has already been covered in asphalt.
Other parts of the field appear to have been dug up while huge piles of dry asphalt lie in wait ready to be laid down.
Our exclusive photos also show long fences have been installed - potentially to allow a number of pitches to be claimed by traveller families.Yes, it's 'Dale Farm 2: The Return'...
The work is in clear breach of a High Court injunction obtained by Basildon Council last October after the authority spent millions evicting illegal settlers from the land and nearby Dale Farm in Crays Hill.
Residents fear dozens of families will soon move onto the site.What, breaching a High Court injunction?! Why, it's almost as if they have no regard for the law of the land, or something...
Phil Turner, leader of Basildon Council, said the council is taking action.Really? I asked a council official if action was actually being taken:
Thanks, council spokescat!
He said: “We are continuing our investigations with a view to taking further legal action.Thanks for the clarification!
“We are pursuing all legal avenues currently available to us in an attempt to halt unauthorised development on the site.Translation: "We're screwed, but we can have lots of meetings, with tea and biscuits on the ratepayer in the meantime.."
“However, we must emphasise that these powers are inadequate and cannot provide the sort of swift and decisive response residents would understandably like to see.Yup, nothing will happen because they are a protected species.
“In recent years, Basildon Council has written to the Department for Communities and Local Government to call for meaningful changes to the law.
“We are repeating that call in the hope the law can be changed to give the council emergency powers to take immediate action in circumstances such as this.”So how about it, May? You are a Tory Government, aren't you?
6 comments:
Breaching a High Court injunction is a criminal offence. Knock down the fencing, remove the asphalt (and use it to repair the disgraceful road surfaces in that area), seize and sell the caravans already there unless moved within 24 hours, and arrest anyone who obstructs those actions. Simple. The law is there. However, it appears the council are hesitant to take any action because (a) the proposed residents are an endangered species (or should be) and (b) none of the council members live there so they are not directly affected.
Penseivat
Living in the area as I did some forty years ago and saw the already Dale Farm fiasco in full living colour, it is at the least an appalling indictment on the local council that having had the powers to do something even back then,that they sat on their collective very large backsides.
That millions of pounds of taxpayers money later not only did they fail to clear up Dale Farm, the so called legal settlement never was legal, but they now are prepared to let this new development progress under their collective snouts and it will as the precedent has been set, yet a quick dawn visit by a couple of those large army bulldozers would solve the issue in a flash and what then could the "endangered" species do, but that would be to easy !
The deed will be done over the forthcoming Easter weekend. So the council know what's happening, when and where. And, lo, it will unfold, unimpeded.
The real problem is with law abiding people, they have forgotten how to correctly utilise flaming torches and pitchforks. Or big army bulldozers.
Is it possible to declare Martial Law in that area? Then nicely ask the Paras, Royal Marines and/or the SAS & SBS if they wouldn't mind awfully lending a hand to clear it.
"Breaching a High Court injunction is a criminal offence. "
It would be if you or I did it. Here, it's a 'misunderstanding'.
"... yet a quick dawn visit by a couple of those large army bulldozers would solve the issue in a flash ..."
Especially if they waited until the area was occupied.
"The deed will be done over the forthcoming Easter weekend. So the council know what's happening, when and where. "
God, I suspect you're right.. :/
"Is it possible to declare Martial Law in that area?"
Now there's an idea!
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