Campaigners Visit Traveller Eviction Site

Human rights campaigners have visited the UK's largest traveller site in Essex and criticised plans to evict some residents.

The eviction from Dale Farm near Basildon is expected to begin on Monday after a decade-long row.

Last month, a group of traveller families lost a High Court appeal against the eviction .

The Judge said the decision to remove them was entirely lawful as their rights had been considered a number of times and the proper procedure followed.

The travellers own the land and although half of the site is legal, Basildon council said that there are currently 51 illegal pitches.

It said these involve up to 240 people.

Professor Yves Cabannes, chairman of the Advisory Group on Forced Evictions, said they found the council was violating international rights.

He said they included the right to adequate housing which was culturally suitable, the right to be defended against forced evictions and the rights of non-discrimination.

"There are many Dale Farms which face these issues every day and there needs to be a co-ordinated approach across the country," Professor Cabannes said.

"We are used to see millions of people losing their homes in Zimbabwe, China and Nigeria - how is one country unable to solve the problem of 51 pitches?"

Cathleen McCarthy, a resident at the site and spokeswoman for the travellers, told Sky News that people on the site are worried about what will happen and said that "nobody is eating or sleeping".

"We are human beings like everybody else," she said.

"We are the only race that has no rights."

She said that when they first set up the camp, they were hoping that Basildon Council would provide them with a more permanent site.

The council said they have offered the families alternative housing and said they are not discriminating against their lifestyle.

Council leader Tony Ball said they had spent the last 10 years trying to avoid a forced clearance.

"We have always sought to persuade the travellers to move on, and to help them with that process," he added.

"The (advisory group) may not be aware that Basildon provides more approved traveller sites than any other local authority area in Essex and among the greatest number on any area in the country. We have a very strong record of working with travellers within the law.

"The (group) refers to the rights of the families involved. Basildon Council respects those, along with the rights of the vast majority of its residents who want this illegal camp moved after 10 years of stalling tactics by the travellers."

The travellers and their supporters have said they will resist the evictions without violence, but police have been making plans in case there are problems.