John Baron MP asks Minister to back call for Dale Farm travellers to move on peacefully

Wednesday, 04, Mar 2009 12:00

John Baron MP has challenged Communities Minister Sadiq Khan MP in the House of Commons to support his call for travellers at the Dale Farm site to move on peacefully now their legal battle is drawing to a close. John hopes that a forced eviction and the sorrow it will bring can still be avoided. He also asked the Minister to help to identify transit sites which would enable the travellers to move on quickly without being left on the roadside.

John asked:

“Some travellers at Dale Farm are reported to be preparing to resist an eviction, despite having exhausted all their arguments in court. No one wants to see a forced eviction and the sorrow that that would bring, so will the Government do what they can to persuade travellers to move on peacefully? To this end, will the Government help to identify transit sites, so that families are not made completely homeless?”

In reply the Minister sidestepped the issue of help with transit sites, suggesting that this is a matter for the local authority. He pointed out that the travellers have been allowed to appeal to the House of Lords.

Afterwards, John said:

“No one wants to see a forced eviction which is why I have already written to the Government, the travellers, Basildon Council and to local community leaders urging them to use their influence to persuade the travellers to leave. Today, the Government confirmed it is not interested in avoiding an eviction.”

“The Government will not even help to find transit sites outside the District to help ensure travellers move off and will not be homeless. Having helped create this problem, it is shameful the Government will not now help to resolve it.”