LEN Gridley, who still lives opposite Dale Farm, has called for “lessons to be learned” on the fifth anniversary of the eviction of an illegal traveller encampment at the site, near Billericay.

Mr Gridley, of Oak Road, has urged Basildon Council to “not make the same mistakes” by giving scope for larger encampments.

Mr Gridley, 58, believes smaller sites across Basildon could improve relations within the community.

He said: “I remember it all very well, and it was absolute chaos with all the noise during the eviction.

“Things are certainly a lot calmer now which is a good thing, The numbers have gone down dramatically.

“If there were smaller sites, dotted about across the borough, there would be less chance of things getting out of hand.

“Relations would be much better and I don’t think the sites would get out of hand like they did at Dale Farm.”

At the height of the trouble a staggering 86 families were living at Dale Farm, just off the A127 in Crays Hill.

The Echo understands that 20 families are now living legally at the site.

In its draft local plan, which sets out where homes will be built across the borough over the next 15 years, Basildon Council says it need to supply between 98 to 109 pitches.

Kevin Blake, Tory deputy leader of Basildon Council, says the authority is committed to providing safe encampments.

He said: “We must point out that we as a council are against all illegal encampments, and that does not just come from travellers.

“The roots of Dale Farm came from John Prescott back in 2003 when he gave them two years to find somewhere else to live.

“This was ignored and then the numbers just ballooned there. If we are to have any chance of having peaceful traveller encampments, then we need more support from central government.

“They need to help us make things easier when moving illegal encampments on, which I stress can be anyone, not just travellers.”

Basildon Council has revealed it failed to recoup costs spent on the eviction.

Rioting, fire and violence - Dale Farm eviction retold

YESTERDAY marked five years since violence erupted at the Dale Farm travellers camp as protesters fought back as police attempted to evict its occupants.

It all began at about 7am following a surprise assault on the camp at Crays Hill, by 150 riot police, who were insulted while being pelted with stones, urine and an unknown powder.

Tony Ball, who was Basildon Council leader at the time, said the police were intended to enter the site after bailiffs as back up - but because violence and disorder had been threatened beforehand, police had to enter first.

A stand-off between police and protesters took place as a barricade was formed.

Before the advance, electricity was cut at the illegal site, and the police stormed in at the opposite end to the scaffold barricade where protesters had been expecting them.

Police with shields broke down fencing and drove back the crowds before two protesters were subdued with Taser stun guns just after 7am.

A caravan was set on fire, sending thick black smoke billowing into the air as helicopters circled above the site.

Eventually 23 people were arrested after the eviction, which came ten years after the legal part of Dale Farm was illegally more than doubled in size.
Within weeks of the evictions, at least ten families had moved back on to roads inside the site.

Total eviction cost

A SPOKESMAN for Basildon Council confirmed the authority has yet to recoup costs of the eviction in October, 2011.

It is reported the authority faced a £4.3million bill, excluding a policing cost at £2.3 million.

The row, which escalated all the way to the House of Lords, was ended with bailiffs and riot police clearing the illegal plots.

A council spokesman said: “The total cost to the council of the Dale Farm clearances was £4.3million. Police costs and other associated services were not included in this amount.

“Charges have been registered against the landowners. No money has been retrieved to date. The council would receive payments as and when plots are sold.”