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Travellers weigh up move to plot in central Essex (From Gazette)
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Travellers weigh up move to plot in central Essex
1:00pm Monday 17th August 2009
TRAVELLERS from the notorious Dale Farm site could move north to an industrial site near Witham.
Campaigners for the illegal site in Crays Hill, near Billericay, approached Basildon Council asking for its help to relocate some of the 86 families to land on the market in mid-Essex.
Its now emerged the site being looked at is 3.3 acres off Freebornes Road, Witham, currently marketed by Kemsley Property Consultants.
It is on offer to buy or for long-term rent as the whole site, or in smaller plots.
The travellers, who are set to be evicted after years of legal wrangling, have asked the council if it believes it is a suitable site to move several of the families and if so, will approach Braintree Council about the possibility.
A Basildon Council spokesman said: “The council has received correspondence from the Dale Farm Housing Association about a possible site in Witham and is investigating the matter.”
Witham mayor Barry Fleet said: “This is the first I’ve heard about it. The land there is for industrial use first and foremost and it is one of the prime industrial areas for Witham. I’m not sure any other use is appropriate.
“Whether it would be welcomed by the town council or Witham people, it is difficult to comment.”
Sally Carpenter, of Witham Industrial Watch, added: “It’s completely inappropriate because it is an industrial area.
“The only area that’s not industrial is the sewage works, and the industry runs from Freebournes Road right back to the other roads going around town.”
Grattan Puxon, a campaigner for Dale Farm, said: “We have had confirmation from the Government that Basildon will be required to find land for 62 pitches by 2011. We would prefer these to be at Dale Farm, but by doing this we are showing we are making efforts to find an alternative in or outside the district.”
A Kemsley director, who asked not to be named, said offers are sought of over £600,000 an acre.
He said: “I think it highly unlikely the local authority would effectively give residential type planning permission.”
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Your Say YourColchester
RJD_Wiz, Basildon says...
1:28pm Mon 17 Aug 09
One hope though, is that wherever they go, they are monitored more closely to ensure illegal buildings aren't erected.
mindboggles, says...
1:35pm Mon 17 Aug 09
Really? I wouldn't say it's that difficult. I think we have a fair idea...
Fupo, Wickford says...
1:53pm Mon 17 Aug 09
Boris, Colchester says...
2:42pm Mon 17 Aug 09
If Basildon fails to provide its quota then other councils in Essex will have to provide more. Presumably Basildon will pay other councils to take traveller families off its hands.
If Basildon and Witham can't sort this out between themselves in the next few weeks then Lord Bonkers will have to take charge, unless of course he has been disqualified from public office by then, in which case it will be whoever takes over as leader of the county council.
By living in caravans, travellers are relieving the pressure on housing which would otherwise be even more expensive and hard to find than it is now.
Stop persecuting the travellers and let them use the sites they need.
vangebasildon, Vange says...
2:48pm Mon 17 Aug 09
We, the taxpayers of Essex have paid far far too much already for these families
Also the above article mentions help to 'relocate some of the 86 families' so where are the rest going to go and also l thought Puxton was at one time saying they all had to be housed together.
Password for this comment is 'some-neck' very fitting indeed for those people
SARFENDMAN, Rayleigh says...
2:57pm Mon 17 Aug 09
Biker One, Basildon says...
3:20pm Mon 17 Aug 09
Boris wrote:Boris you're bonkers.....
Legal sites must be set up for travellers as required by law. Each council has been allocated a quota. If Basildon fails to provide its quota then other councils in Essex will have to provide more. Presumably Basildon will pay other councils to take traveller families off its hands. If Basildon and Witham can't sort this out between themselves in the next few weeks then Lord Bonkers will have to take charge, unless of course he has been disqualified from public office by then, in which case it will be whoever takes over as leader of the county council. By living in caravans, travellers are relieving the pressure on housing which would otherwise be even more expensive and hard to find than it is now. Stop persecuting the travellers and let them use the sites they need.
Also:
"Dale Farm Housing Association"
WTF they want houses now?
EthanEdwards, St Osyth says...
3:43pm Mon 17 Aug 09
Heinz, Earls Colne says...
3:46pm Mon 17 Aug 09
Biker One wrote:No, they HAVE houses. What they don't have is planning permission to build them on green belt land.
Boris wrote:Boris you're bonkers.....
Legal sites must be set up for travellers as required by law. Each council has been allocated a quota. If Basildon fails to provide its quota then other councils in Essex will have to provide more. Presumably Basildon will pay other councils to take traveller families off its hands. If Basildon and Witham can't sort this out between themselves in the next few weeks then Lord Bonkers will have to take charge, unless of course he has been disqualified from public office by then, in which case it will be whoever takes over as leader of the county council. By living in caravans, travellers are relieving the pressure on housing which would otherwise be even more expensive and hard to find than it is now. Stop persecuting the travellers and let them use the sites they need.
Also:
"Dale Farm Housing Association"
WTF they want houses now?
Biker One, Basildon says...
3:46pm Mon 17 Aug 09
EthanEdwards wrote:Thanks for your insight Ethan, yet another freeloader then!
Boris is Gratton Puxon by any other name...IMO
Bonneville Bert, Bath says...
3:47pm Mon 17 Aug 09
Boris can follow asap!
Deadjim, Billericay says...
6:30pm Mon 17 Aug 09
Basildon has around 9,000 hectares, a lot of which is green belt and has been allocated an additional 62 pitches on top of it’s existing 116.
Basildon council can challenge this illogical government decision through the High Court, Court of Appeal and House of Lords – same process used by the travellers at Dale Farm.
Will all this be done before 2011 ? Not a chance so dream on Mr Puxon.
Winston Smith, Old Shoebury. says...
6:49pm Mon 17 Aug 09
ONLY if New Liebour win the next general election. So I suggest you and the rest of the illegals at Dole Farm start booking your ferry tickets.
bronte, Rayleigh says...
6:57pm Mon 17 Aug 09
Martynun, Basildon says...
7:54pm Mon 17 Aug 09
Ireland is supposed to be really nice so how bout they start there!
Boris, Colchester says...
9:03pm Mon 17 Aug 09
Grattan is a permanent resident in north Essex who pays his council tax and therefore has as much right to speak about our communities as any of us.
Seeing the kind of vitriol coming from some of you, my admiration for Mr. Puxon's lifetime of work for gypsies and travellers is all the greater. The man deserves a knighthood but I doubt if he would accept it.
As I said before, stop persecuting the travellers.
bronte, Rayleigh says...
10:05pm Mon 17 Aug 09
Ironman, billericay says...
10:37pm Mon 17 Aug 09
Anyone who still has one iota of sympathy for these free-loading poncies has got to have a screw loose.
midnight warrior, wickford says...
10:41pm Mon 17 Aug 09
The_Shnooks, Southend says...
10:47pm Mon 17 Aug 09
Leave them alone, they are human beings that have the right to live where they likee.
Blinkin hell this is like the days when old ma Gandy got her beak into everything and had her say.
I for one will welcome them here.
perini, Leigh on Sea says...
11:52pm Mon 17 Aug 09
The_Shnooks wrote:Then, imo, you are a complete and utter moron. Have you not followed the stories detailing how they already have houses etc. They are chancers, kicked out of their native ireland because the Irish government, unlike our bunch of idiots won't put up with their sh1t, and let them capitilise on building upon green belt land illegally.
bring them on, I am not fussed and I work in Witham and live 3 miles away. You lot make me sick, you moan when they live legally and moan when they live illegally. They cant do right for doing wrong. Leave them alone, they are human beings that have the right to live where they likee. Blinkin hell this is like the days when old ma Gandy got her beak into everything and had her say. I for one will welcome them here.
undertaker, crays hill says...
7:12am Tue 18 Aug 09
Boris wrote:Obviously you dont know what your talking about,You want to give someone a knighthood who has a conviction for terrorist offences in ireland.....!.Either you dont know this and your spouting your bile without any knowledge of the situation or your simply stupid and condoning violence.Either way your just a typical left wing moron who will sell our country out to anyone who pleads the human rights act.
Sorry to disappoint those who think I am Grattan Puxon, but I am not. I am sure he is far too busy to bother with this kind of discussion. Grattan is a permanent resident in north Essex who pays his council tax and therefore has as much right to speak about our communities as any of us. Seeing the kind of vitriol coming from some of you, my admiration for Mr. Puxon's lifetime of work for gypsies and travellers is all the greater. The man deserves a knighthood but I doubt if he would accept it. As I said before, stop persecuting the travellers.
evilc, essex says...
7:32am Tue 18 Aug 09
I would like to say 'Just leave us alone go back to Ireland where the real Irish deal with you the correct way'
RJD_Wiz, Basildon says...
8:39am Tue 18 Aug 09
The_Shnooks wrote:You're missing the point. Go down to Dale Farm and speak to one of the 'normal' residents of the area. The one's who've been threatened with death. The one's who've had their property & cars vandalised. Speak to the Police & ask to see the dossier of action taken, and visits they've had to make to this area due to the Travellers. Speak to the postman who was shot with an air rifle while delivering their post!
bring them on, I am not fussed and I work in Witham and live 3 miles away. You lot make me sick, you moan when they live legally and moan when they live illegally. They cant do right for doing wrong. Leave them alone, they are human beings that have the right to live where they likee. Blinkin hell this is like the days when old ma Gandy got her beak into everything and had her say. I for one will welcome them here.
Yes, I accept that there probably are a few decent people among them, but for the majority, it's bad news....for everyone. They live above the law, pay no council tax, close roads illegally to hold races, steal, deal drugs...the list is endless & quite frankly the community has had enough.
This is not about a witch hunt, or trying to percecute people for the hell of it. Everyone is just sick of their utter disregard for everyone else, for others property, for paying their due's, for the LAW. If they just tried to live like everyone else I'm sure the bitter feeling towards them would fade...They choose not to comply with the law....We choose not to accept them & where they live.
Simples !
Shadow Demon, Colchester says...
8:52am Tue 18 Aug 09
bronte wrote:Exactly this, there is no reason why there freeloaders should be getting special treatment because of their choice of "lifestyle" the simple fact of the matter is they are a leech on the resources of whatever area they take their travelling crimewave to. But no one seems to be able to do a thing about it because of their human rights. what about the human rights of the children the majority of which will never even see a school let alone get an education. instead being raised in filthy conditions sutrrounded by hedge cuttings and half built engines!
The idea of being a traveller is to move around the country, so start travelling and stop keep asking for a permanent site, if you want a permanent site start paying you countil taxes etc.
Flip Flop, Copford says...
9:13am Tue 18 Aug 09
Littlemadam, Witham says...
9:03pm Tue 18 Aug 09
Feisty CBC, Colchester says...
10:31pm Tue 18 Aug 09
Flip Flop wrote:Hahahahaha ooh you little tinker flip-flop ;)
If they move the travellers, the Basildon elderly will be releaved because the next knock at the door may be a REAL gas, electricity, water board fitter!
Gideon Smythe, Wivenhoe says...
2:46pm Wed 19 Aug 09
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evilc, essex says...
1:17pm Mon 17 Aug 09