DALE FARM: FIGHT THE POWER

CALLOUT AS EVERYONE GEARS UP FOR IMMINANT EVICTION ATTEMPT 

As the eviction date for Dale Farm is only a matter of days away, Basildon Council has announced that it will take the draconian step of cutting off all water and electricity to the site once the eviction notice period expires on midnight 31st August. This will leave sick, elderly, young, and pregnant residents without access to water or electricity. Amnesty International have condemned the removal of vital water and electricity in these circumstances, and asked their supporters to put pressure on the council to cease this serious violation of human rights. An injunction has been sought in consideration of two residents who are dependent upon a constant electricity supply for nebulisers, without access to which their lives are placed in serious jeopardy.

Also, notices have gone up along Oak Road, adjacent to Dale Farm, saying that the road will be closed to all but residents from Friday, Sept. 2nd.  Both ends of Oak Road will be blocked (blocking access via both Hardings Elm Road and Gardiners Lane North). Additionally, the lay by on the southern end of Oak Lane (leading on to the A127; by the white ‘Basildon onion’ water tower) will be blocked. There will be a no stop zone on the footpaths on the A127 between A176 at Billericay and A132 at Wickford. Residents are feeling under siege, with children asking how many more nights they are going to be able to sleep in their beds. Dale Farm is a big site, so it should be possible to find routes in, but be advised that after Sept. 1, it will be harder to get in, and likely impossible to get vehicles in.

* For more on what to expect at the eviction see SchNEWS 738

CAMP CONSTANT: On Saturday, 27th August, join the launch of a solidarity and resistance camp for supporters of the Dale Farm community. Details of the current state of play, the roadblocks and the ‘Big Weekend’s’ programme of practical eviction resistance workshops, training for legal observers and human rights monitors, music, films, media sessions, sleeping arrangements and more at: http://dalefarm.wordpress.com