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John Baron MP: Minister agrees to meeting to discuss traveller sites

MP says Government has responsibility to provide transit sites for Dale Farm travellers

2 June 2009

Today in Parliament during Local Government Questions, John Baron MP challenged Sadiq Khan MP, Communities Minister, over the Government's responsibility for helping Basildon Council to avoid a forced eviction of the Dale Farm travellers. John asked for Government help to identify transit sites outside the District which would mean the travellers could leave Dale Farm peacefully. The Minister agreed to a meeting to discuss the issue.

John asked:

"The 85 traveller families at the illegal Dale Farm site have now exhausted their planning and legal options. Basildon Council is rightly looking to return the unauthorised site to greenbelt condition but hopes to avoid – as we all do – a forced eviction. However, for this to happen the ball is in the traveller's court for they need to move off peacefully, but there is a shortage of sites."

"Given the scale of the issue and the fact the Government is partly responsible for the problem – because it gave the travellers a two year leave to remain during which time the number of caravans shot up – will the Minister now help identify transit sites outside the District, and will he meet with me to discuss this?"

The Minister questioned the Government's responsibility but agreed to a meeting with John.

Afterwards, John said:

"At the meeting I will be pointing out the Council is absolutely right to enforce planning regulations. But I will also be pressing the Government to accept its part in creating this problem and therefore its responsibility to provide transit sites outside the District."

"I'm not holding my breath, but if the Government refuses and the travellers remain, then sadly there can be no alternative to a forced eviction."