BBC News - Dale Farm: Essex Travellers' eviction dates set - 19th September 2011

5 September 2011 Last updated at 10:20

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Dale Farm: Essex Travellers' eviction dates set

Travellers are set to be evicted from the site later this month

The eviction of travellers from the UK's largest illegal site will take place during the week commencing 19 September, the BBC has learned.

About 400 people face eviction from Dale Farm, at Crays Hill, Essex, by Basildon Council.

The deadline for them to leave the illegal site passed last Wednesday.

A United Nations committee has called on the government to suspend the eviction but the council said it would be going ahead.

Families are to be evicted from 400 illegal pitches, built at the site without planning permission.

The UN's Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination said the eviction would disproportionately affect family life and create hardship.

It called on the government to suspend it "until culturally appropriate accommodation is identified and provided".

But the Department for Communities and Local Government said the council was within its rights to press ahead with the eviction.

Supporters of the Travellers have established a protest camp, called Camp Constant, at the site and have pledged to help the Travellers resist eviction through non-violent means.

via bbc.co.uk