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John Baron MP: Government finally admits Dale Farm travellers must move on

4 June 2009

Response to MP’s letter follows promise of a meeting to discuss transit sites

In response to John’s letter to Hazel Blears MP [the then Secretary of State for Local Government] of 5th May John Baron MP has today welcomed an admission by the Government that travellers on the unauthorised Dale Farm traveller site should move on. In a letter to John, the Communities Minister Iain Wright MP stated:

"Those travellers without planning permission to stay at Dale Farm know they will have to move off the site because Basildon District Council will[and must] enforce planning law."

This is the first time the Government has acknowledged the need for the travellers to move on, having given them a two-year leave to remain on the unauthorised site in 2003, during which period the number of caravans shot up. Previously the Government had stated this was purely a Council issue.

Commenting, John said:

"It is good news that, after much pressure, the Government has finally admitted that we are right to enforce planning law at the Dale Farm site, and that the travellers should now move off. I hope this message will now get through to the travellers themselves."

"Planning law will be upheld, but in order to avoid the misery of a forced eviction I have impressed on the travellers that they should move on peacefully. I am shortly meeting with the Minister to solicit Government help in identifying transit sites outside the District to facilitate this."