What's happening with the Dale Farm eviction?

[Teachermumof3]

Does anyone who live locally know what's going on? Have many of the travellers left? Will there be a horrible fight at 9am tomorrow?

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

The bailiffs are going in today and the travellers are promising resistance. Good luck to the bailiffs, I say. Hope no-one gets hurt.

[ImDaveandsoismywife]

Travellers have been arriving there from elsewhere in support (I know this because DH's company has a factory in Tilbury and they've had to put concrete blocks at the car park entrance to stop Travellers from invading en-route to Crays Hill - a place on the same industrial estate didn't, and had something like 20 caravans there for 3 nights, left the place a tip), so I have a horrible feeling it's not going to be peaceful.

[southeastastra]

i can't bear to see what will happen here. i really don't see the harm in them staying now. it's been so long :(

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

The 'harm' unfortunately, would be the damage to the legal system. If one group can get away with ignoring the rule of law, that would set a precedent for others to do the same. I feel sorry for the travellers but they've had many chances to make their case and they simply haven't succeeded.

[YouWinOrYouDie]

There's something in the DM today showing a massive montage of portraits of the Dale Farm children at the site entrance. It tugged at my heartstrings a bit until I looked closely and saw many of the little boys were posed shirtless and putting up their dukes!

Have a driving lesson in a bit and will be staying away from the main road because DH and I noticed that there have been recent changes of speed limits and access roads and lay-bys closed.

Other than that I'm just hoping that it goes as well as it can go and that there are no casualties.

[WhollyGhost]

There is live coverage here:

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/liberaldemocrats/8772953/Dale-Farm-eviction-live.html

the url suggests the telegraph is somehow allocating responsibility to the liberal democrats

[WhollyGhost]

I think it is very likely that there will be willing martyrs for this right on cause, the police and bailiffs have a tough job on their hands.

I hope all goes smoothly.

[cookcleanerchaufferetc]

Just looked at The Telegrapgh. Apprently Gloria Hunniford has just turned up ... WTF!!!!

[scaevola]

This is the BBc's latest on this. It says 12 families have left, but there are an estimated 120 people remaining. There is a press conference scheduled for 12:00.

[KouklaMoo]

Arf at Gloria Hunniford turning up! I wonder if she'll set herself in concrete as well?

I just heard a report of Five Live and they said there are now more activists on site than travellers. And that a woman is chained to the gate by her neck

[piprabbit]

We've had police everywhere over the weekend - not just near the site.
Apparently it could go on for as long as 6 weeks.

[KouklaMoo]

Niceguy, well, that's given me something to think about today - how does one take, ahem, natural breaks, when set in concrete/chained to a gate??

[niceguy2]

well if chained to a gate, she will either have to poo herself or remove herself and go answer the call of nature. I'm guessing the latter. As for those who have concreted themselves in, i wonder if they thought of it!

[piprabbit]

Tena pants?

[Dillydaydreaming]

The Dale Farm thing was irritating me (as I live nearby), then I read niceguy's post and have been grinning to myself ever since. Yep - let nature sort it all out, take away portals and any chance of getting food and supplies in. That'll sort out the"rent an anarchist" lot and the bailiffs can then get on with the job they are employed for

Incidentally as a community nurse I can tell you the gas cylinders are considered a high enough risk to make the trust issue a "no site visits" notice which means they have to come off site for medical care.

[OneHandFlapping]

"the gas cylinders are considered a high enough risk to make the trust issue a "no site visits"

So would that be true of a Caravan Club site, too?

[cookcleanerchaufferetc]

Haven't Dale Farm been stocking up on gas cylinders though!!!! I think potentially several years stock is a tad unnecessary! Plus this isnt exactly bbq weather!!

[KouklaMoo]

I have just seen tv footage of a guy with his arm cemented into a metal drum, which is in front of the gate - I mean for the love of god - how horribly uncomfortable must that be? Dead arm within an hour or so I would have thought? I mean, however they get him out of that one it's going to hurt, like, a lot . Makes me feel a bit squeamish tbh.

I know what you mean about rent-an-anarchist. I have mixed feelings myself about the whole Dale Farm eviction, but I do wonder how much these activists care about the cause, and how much is just to stand up to the 'establishment and fight with the police.

I fear it will not end well.

[Dillydaydreaming]

onehand they are stockpiling gas cylinders unlike the Caravan Club
But that should be obvious to anyone who does not have an agenda of support for them. Not only that but they have openly said they will use their children as a human shield. Nice people eh?

[YouWinOrYouDie]

I wonder if the young middle-class "anarchists" (who probably live in Surrey) will have the book thrown at them if they commit violent acts such as burning cars or endangering the lives of legal enforcement officers?

[niceguy2]

For the idiot who cemented his arm into a drum, just move everyone else out. After a couple of days without food & water go back and ask if he wants to leave yet.

[Dillydaydreaming]

I need "like" buttons for niceguy's posts here.

[scaevola]

Lunchtime news said only about half the people on the part of the site to be clearer are actual residents. Half are, apparently, activists.

[KouklaMoo]

Niceguy, that would be a bit of a 'who's laughing now' moment wouldn't it?