Travellers return to illegal site
At least 10 families have moved back on to the UK’s largest illegal travellers’ site after bailiffs and council officials completed their clearance operation.
The action to remove caravans and chalets from 51 unauthorised plots on Dale Farm, Essex, was completed on Monday and Basildon Council has obtained an injunction to prevent reoccupation of the site.
But yesterday caravans had pulled back on to the illegal half of the site and many remain on the legal side, exceeding the authorised capacity.
Some said they would stay unless the council provided an alternative. Council bosses sare said to be monitoring the situation closely and would resist any attempt to reoccupy Dale Farm.