Travellers take their case to Court of Appeal

Residents of the UK’s largest illegal travellers’ site will be back in court on Monday in the latest round of their long-running battle against eviction.

On Wednesday, their bid to stay at Dale Farm in Essex was dismissed by the High Court, but they immediately vowed to take their fight to the Court of Appeal.

A hearing has now been listed before Lord Justice Sullivan at 11am.

Part of the hearing is expected to be an application for a “stay” on moves by Basildon Council to remove them from the site.

Earlier in the week, they failed in attempts at the High Court to block their removal from the controversial site in three linked applications for judicial review.

Mr Justice Ouseley ruled they had delayed too long in challenging the council’s decision to take direct action against them. He also ruled that Basildon’s actions were not “disproportionate”.

The judge said the travellers were breaking criminal law on a daily basis by remaining and their removal was necessary to avoid “the criminal law and the planning system being brought into serious disrepute”.

The ruling was a victory for council chiefs, who have fought a costly ten-year campaign to clear the site.