A Voice For the Voiceless

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The Advocacy Project seeks to produce social change by helping marginalized communities to become advocates for social justice and claim their rights

Gypsy School Faces Demolition by Council

By Grattan Puxon

Just as Gypsy Council members were about to sit down for an historic 250th session yesterday (9 Sept), a courier arrived at the door to deliver the message that the building they were meeting in faces forced removal for breach of planning control.

Like the 132 chalets, mobile-homes and trailer caravans that make up Dale Farm village, Saint Christopher's Centre lacks planning consent. But then the suppliers of this large log cabin assured Dale Farm Housing Association permission to erect it was not needed.

Small print on the brochure says such structures require no planning application to the local authority where they are sited adjacent to an existing dwelling. The dwelling in this case is the caravan home of Mrs Martina McCarthy.

It just so happens her neice was recommended this week for inclusion by Essex Traveller Education Service in the ELAMP scheme. If accepted she will be the first Dale Farm pupil (and one of only five in the county) to benefit from a programme to assist those having difficulty with regular secondary education through home-based computer programmes and tutoring.

There are about 50 children of secondary-school age at Dale Farm, none of whom are currently attending school. Why? Because they have been met with so much racism and bullying parents are now reluctant to make them go.

A score of parents have opted for home education, and as many again have been reported by the TES for failing to send children to Basildon's often crowded secondary moderns. Most are not easy places for any first-arrivals transferring from the comparative shelter of primary school.

A primary reason for building Saint Christopher's was to provide a bridge. Computers have been installed for IT instruction, and courses in photography and dressmaking start this month.The centre is also used by Dale Farm Chaveys Youth Club, which is benefitting from professional leadership training.

Saint Christopher's, opened in May by Lord Avebury, and blessed as a place of worship by parish priest Father John Glynn has been visited by the Bishop of Brentwood. A prayer meeting takes place every Tuesday.

Not withstanding all this positive community activity, a majority of
Basildon councillors appear to want to single out Saint Christophers as a target for retribution. The law has been broken and someone must be punished. One can only hope it has nothing to do with prejudice or racial venom.

A twist to this story is that the building belongs neither to Mrs McCarthy (though Basildon intends to drag her before the magistrates over it), nor to Dale Farm Housing Association. It belongs legally to the Government, more precisely to the Department for Children, Schools and Families, who provided the financing and retain ownership.

Faced with this threat, the Gypsy Council resolved last night to call for a protest rally in front of the Basildon Centre at 7pm on Tuesday, 16 September, to coincide with the Develoment Control committee meeting. Members and residents will address the committee.

"We feel bitter over this as it comes right on top of Essex County Council's threat to take our children into care as part of Basildon's eviction plan," commented Richard Sheridan, president of the Gypsy Council. "The're turning up the terror to make us leave."