Gypsy and Traveller Site Grant Spent On Homes For Other People

"Millions of pounds intended for new Gypsy and Traveller sites have been diverted to other projects, a move described as shocking by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

The Gypsy and Traveller Sites Grant, launched in 2008, had £97m available to "reduce the number of unauthorised sites" and "reduce the need for costly enforcement action". But only £16.9m has been spent. A lack of ring-fencing has meant millions being channelled into affordable homes not intended for Gypsies."

 Guardian - Dale Farm battle highlights funding black hole for new Traveller sites

Women of Wheal Jewel

Gypsy women from Wheal Jewel, near Camborne, Cornwall talk about their lives in this short radio piece recorded by student Kirstie Christopher.

Cornwall Council's Bid for £1.5m for Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation

Cornwall Council has bid for £1.5 million to solve the problems faced by Gypsies and Travellers who have no legal place to call home or to temporarily stop in Cornwall. Currently there are around 20 unauthorised sites, with most 'tolerated' by the Council, because there is simply no where else for the Gypsies and Travellers to live.

If successful the bid will provide seven new residential and transit sites. The preference of most Gypsies and Travellers surveyed for the 2006 Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (pdf) was for small, unobtrusive sites and this has been recognised by the Council in their bid.

West Briton 22/09

Luton Council to Evict Dale Farm Refugees

Around 20 caravans from the disputed site in Basildon, Essex have pitched up at Stockwood Park in Bedfordshire and it is thought more could be on their way.

The Travellers, who are facing eviction from Dale Farm, have warned that they have nowhere else to go.

Homes and Community Agency Continue to Offer Solution for Dale Farm Travellers

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) today said it would continue to offer ‘land and investment’ to resettle Dale Farm residents – but that it could only find a solution with the help of Basildon Council.

On the day that hundreds of Traveller families were due to be evicted from the Crays Lane site, the HCA confirmed that it owned ‘extensive’ land within the Basildon district and that its offer of help remained on the table if the council wished to continue negotiations.

The HCA said it had been ‘working for two years’ to help find suitable alternative accommodation in the area for the Travellers but the council’s decision to withdraw from a working group in October 2010 was a key ‘turning point’.

Hatred and Hypocrisy

 "Institutional racism was defined by the Stephen Lawrence report as "collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin."

Under this definition the forced eviction of Dale Farm travellers is the biggest single incident of institutionalised racism in Britain, defying commercial or common sense.

No other ethnic minority in Britain would accept such an attempt to destroy their culture and way of life.Like the inquiry into the death of Stephen Lawrence, the eviction of Travellers at Dale Farm is a defining moment in British race relations."

From the Morning Star

 

Gypsy Site for Development in Plymouth

Gypsy Sites For Development – Plymouth

Plymouth City Council would like to hear from organisations or individuals who would be interested in acquiring a 99 year lease for land off Military Rd, Efford.

The site benefits by having planning permission for 10 permanent pitches for Gypsies and Travellers.

The lease will be sold by informal tender and subject to a contract requiring any selected developer to build these pitches and make arrangements for proper site management.
We will be holding an open day in early October where more information including how to complete an expression of interest for the tendering process will be available.

If you want to find out more please contact:

Bronwyn Prosser on 01752 304321

or

E-mail: bronwyn.prosser@plymouth.gov.uk

Closing date: Friday 30th September

Basildon Council Names The Day

Basildon Council has confirmed the Dale Farm eviction will start on the 19th September.

Dale Farm press release:

The date for the £18 million eviction of Dale Farm, a former scrapyard which is now home to 90 families, has been revealed to be 19th September. The date was leaked to the local newspaper, the Basildon Echo by a council source before families at Dale Farm were notified.

Dale farm residents are asking the United Nations to move their visit, originally scheduled on Sept. 14th, to the week of Sept 19th. The UN has called on the government to suspend the "immature and unwise" eviction, saying it would "disproportionately affect the lives of the Gypsy and Traveller families, particularly women, children and older people".

Dale Farm residents will give a press briefing early this afternoon at Dale Farm.

The Dale Farm community also extended an invitation to Amnesty International, Jewish, Catholic, Anglican, anti-racist and trade union groups. These organisations are some of the broad array of groups which have been supporting the campaign against eviction. They are now all being asked to schedule visits to the sites on the week the eviction is scheduled.

Rose Shelby, a neighbour of Dale Farm who has signed up to be a human rights monitor with the Dale Farm Solidarity Campaign, commented:

"With the leaking of the eviction date Basildon Council will face an unprecedented alliance in opposition to their planned eviction. On 19th September Basildon Council and the coalition government who are financing this will face a moral challenge to explain to thousands of people and the world's assembled media why they are choosing to make over 100 children homeless and remove them from their schools. It really is time to call-off this eviction and seek a sensible solution to the situation."

Kathleen McCarthy, a resident of Dale Farm, expressed frustration at the announcement:

“We found out about the date of the eviction through the press rather than through dialogue with the Council. We are worried, because we have nowhere else to go. One hundred children will have to be pulled out of school just three weeks into the school year. This has been our home for decades- why won’t Basildon Council see sense?”

This weekend on live radio, Mrs McCarthy challenged the deputy leader of Basildon Council Steve Horgan, to explain why he hadn't responded to a letter from the Bishop of Brentwood, offering to mediate the dispute and seek a peaceful solution. No answer was forthcoming. Dale Farm residents have offered to leave the homes if an alternative site can be found, but Basildon Council has refused to give planning permission for the Travellers.

savedalefarm@gmail.com
07583761462

A petition has been started asking that, considering the UN statement, Basildon Council find a peaceful and appropriate solution for the Gypsy and Traveller residents of Dale farm, including identifying culturally appropriate accommodation, with full respect for the human rights of the families involved and further; that Basildon Council takes no action against the residents of Dale Farm until such time as it has fulfilled this request.