Dale Farm seige is finally over
Jackie Long
Social Affairs Editor and Presenter
Residents and supporters at Dale Farm walk off the site, saying they were leaving “with dignity and heads held high”. Our Social Affairs Correspondent, Jackie Long, reports from Basildon.
Resident Mary Sheridan said “leaving with supporters today is about our own dignity and our appreciation of the support we’ve received. We’re leaving together as one family, and we are proud of that – you can’t take away our dignity.”
The walkout follows Wednesday’s clashes with the police and bailiffs trying to evict travellers and their supporters from Dale Farm, the largest illegal travellers’ site in the UK.
They have lost a 10-year legal battle to be allowed to remain on the site and Basildon Council moved in to evict them on Wednesday.
After violent showdowns over the last 24 hours, the final five protesters at the site have now been removed by bailiffs and the main gate has been torn down with heavy machinery.
A total of 34 people have been arrested and one charged with a public order offence. A man hit by a Taser on Wednesday has not been identified. None of those arrested are arrested and only one of them is local to Basildon.
What next for the Dale Farm travellers?
Superintendent Trevor Roe, from Essex Police, said: “As far as I’m aware, the residents have offered no violence whatsoever. Many want to leave and we are trying to facilitate that.
“We can deal with any other structures and any disorder at a later time.”
Residents wish to leave
Senior resident Kathleen McCarthy said she now wished to leave, once obstacles are removed, and the majority of residents are expected to join her.
Most plan to relocate to Oak Road, on the neighbouring legal site, although Basildon Council told Channel 4 News on Wednesday that the planning conditions on this site meant that this could only be a temporary situation.
We have been terrified by the level of violene and this was never the plan. Kathleen McCarthy, Dale Farm resident
Mrs McCarthy said: “We have been terrified by the level of violence and this was never the plan. I have a 16-year-old daughter in my caravan. We had no power last night and were freezing and scared.
“We want to leave but at the moment we are being prevented from doing so by the bailiffs. We have nowhere to go and will move on to the legal site. Basildon Council say they have offered us alternatives, but they have not.”
Other options
Council leader Tony Ball said: “Where we are now is where we would like to have been yesterday – residents are saying they want to leave peacefully.
“The delay was caused by violent resistance in the morning and peaceful resistance in the afternoon. I am comfortable with the fact those carrying out the clearance are trained professionals and will behave accordingly.”
Mr Ball added: “We have made travellers aware of alternative sites … and made offers to provide for the elderly, vulnerable and young. So far those offers have not been accepted.”
A small number of new protesters, not connected to the main movement, have arrived at the site – some chanting pro-IRA slogans. A new scaffold structure has been erected inside the site and there is evidence of the protesters trying to collect flammable items.