Basildon, UK: A British High Court judge granted an interim injunction Saturday night (Oct. 4) that staves off demolition for a community center built by the Dale Farm Travellers.

The injunction is valid pending a hearing of the Travellers’ application for a judicial review of the Basildon District Council’s decision to remove the Saint Christopher’s Centre.

The application for a judicial review will be processed this week. The case is based partly on the refusal by the Council to allow any members of the public to attend or speak at a Sept.16 meeting where they voted to demolish Saint Christopher’s. The Council claims the Centre, a log cabin, was built in breach of planning regulations.

Saint Christopher’s was built for the children of Dale Farm, many of whom do not attend local schools for fear of prejudice. Computers have been installed in the Centre to allow for information technology (IT) instruction, and Professor Stephen Heppell, a leading online education expert from Anglia Ruskin University, plans to develop courses for Dale Farm residents and children at the Centre. The Centre is also used by the Dale Farm Chaveys Youth Club, which provides the children with leadership training, and for prayer meetings every Tuesday.

In addition to the judicial review hearing, the Travellers also face a Dec. 5 appeals hearing on Basildon’s attempt to evict them from Dale Farm. The Council voted twice, in 2005 and 2007, to evict the Travellers, claiming they are living illegally and without planning permission. A High Court judge halted those eviction orders in May.

The Advocacy Project (AP) has worked with the Dale Farm Housing Association since 2005, and supported the Travellers in their struggle against eviction.

Read more about the injunction.

Read AP’s news bulletin about threats to the Saint Christopher’s Centre.