| Dale Farm | |
|---|---|
 Dale Farm Entrance, scaffolding and "We won't go" sign | |
  Dale Farm Location within Essex | |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BILLERICAY |
| Postcode district | CM11 2 |
| Dialling code | 01268 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| UK Parliament | |
Dale Farm is a plot of land situated on Oak Lane in Crays Hill, Essex, United Kingdom. Until October 2011, it was the site of one of the largest Traveller concentrations in the UK,[1] at its height housing over 1,000 people, along with the adjacent Oak Lane site. Although Basildon District Council had granted permission for the site to be used by a small number of Traveller families, no planning permission was given for the expansion of the site into land located within the Green Belt.[2][3]
The establishment of the illegal plots led to Basildon District Council conducting a ten-year legal battle in the High Court to gain a clearance order to evict the Travellers from Dale Farm. The decision to bring in police officers to remove some activists and residents from the site and give safe access to the contracted bailiffs gained international press coverage, with the overall eviction costing the council £4.8 million.[4]
- ^ Rachel Stevenson (27 July 2010). "Dale Farm Travellers: 'We won't just get up and leave'". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- ^ "Basildon Council : Green belt information". Basildon.gov.uk. 25 October 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- ^ "Basildon Council : Dale Farm site clearance – Frequently asked questions (FAQ's), "Why did Basildon Council say the traveller pitches there are illegal?"". Archived from the original on 7 June 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
- ^ "Dale Farm travellers: Council eviction bill tops £4.8m". BBC News. 3 February 2012.