Dalewood Gardens decision delayed again

11.55.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 17th Feb 2006

Northgate Liberal Democrat Councillors, Gordon & Linda Seekings, were in the Royal Courts of Justice today (Friday) to see if Crawley Borough Council would get the decision they wanted on the eviction of the Travellers camped illegally in Dalewood Gardens. Unfortunately, after a total now of 4 days of legal argument, the decision has still not been made.

The case, as reported previously, revolves round conflicts in the legislation on Travellers, Homelessness, Trespass and the Human Rights Act.

On the first day of the case back on 2nd February the Judge ruled that a representative of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), who is responsible for the law on Travellers, should explain the situation. This was complicated by the fact that on the same day they had brought out new rules on how illegal Traveller sites should be dealt with. In addition a decision in a test case from the House of Lords from before Christmas 2005 (and involving Leeds City Council) that could affect the Crawley case has not yet reported.

The result was that although evidence was taken on both 2nd and 3rd February the case was then deferred till Thursday 16th February.

On the case starting again it was noted that the case from the House of Lords has still not been reported. As a result the Judge has made it clear that although he has now heard all the arguments he may not be able to make his final decision in the Crawley case until after this has been done.

However the Judge also made it clear to the Court that he wants to give the decision on the Crawley case within the next two weeks.