PM Backs Dale Farm Eviction

7 September 2011, 14:25 | Updated: 7 September 2011, 14:28

The Prime Minister has spoken in Parliament this afternoon (Wednesday September 7th) of his support in the eviction of hundreds of travellers from the UK's largest illegal settlement in Essex.

Earlier this week residents of Dale Farm, in Basildon, were told bailiffs will start clearing the site from Monday September the 19th.

MP for Basildon and Billericay, John Baron, spoke in Prime Ministers Questions calling for the government to support the eviction.

He said: "Will the Prime Minister join me in sending a clear message to the travellers at the illegal Dale Farm site: we all hope they move off peacefully in order to avoid a forced eviction but, be in no doubt, the Government fully supports Basildon Council and Essex Police in reclaiming this greenbelt land on behalf of the law abiding majority."
 
The Prime Minister replied saying he supports Basildon Council and Essex Police, and made the point that this was an issue of fairness in ensuring that the law is enforced.
 
In a statement the leader of Basildon Council, Councillor Tony Ball, added, "We very much welcome the Prime Minister's comments and the support received from colleagues and members of the public.

"We wholeheartedly agree that this is a basic issue of fairness, it clearly sets out the Government's position, and in my view would seem to extinguish any calls from the UN on the UK Government to intervene with the site clearance."

It comes as an online petition has been set up by the Gypsy Council calling for the eviction date to be delayed. In just a few days 5,000 people have signed the petition and the organisation says it expects thousands more in the next few days.

To see the petition click here http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/dalefarm/