Epping Residents Group

28 OCTOBER 2008 - Westminster debate -

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2008-10-22a.124.0

17 NOVEMBER - Front page of the Daily Express http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/71491

21 NOVEMBER - The Sun http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1954700.ece

 21 NOVEMBER - The Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1087942/Fury-100million-plan-hundreds-gipsy-sites-country.html

29 November - Daily Mail - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1090397/Using-satellite-spy-cameras-councils-target-private-land-build-7-500-gipsy-sites.html

19 December - Epping Guardian, call for sites outrage http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/efnews/3990056.EPPING__Well_used_sites_could_be_given_to_developers/

23 December - Provisional site allocation reduced http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/news/2008/provisional_site_allocation_reduced.asp

 01Jan 2009 - Daily Mail article re Mid-Bedfordshire consultation response http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1102867/Council-disregard-objections-3-000-residents-traveller-site-racist.html

3 Jan 2009 - Daily Mail article http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/article-1104244/Number-gipsy-sites-doubles-years-homeowners-left-powerless-object.html

10 January 2009 - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1111202/Now-police-object-gipsy-camp-picturesque-village--racist.html

9 February 2009 - Local residents group submit their responses to EFDC - article in Epping Guardian http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/efnews/4113260.EPPING_FOREST__Thousands_of_responses_to_gypsy_consultation/

13 February 2009 - gypsy planning permission near Camilla 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1143880/Camillas-house-Its-just-past-caravan-site--gypsies-planning-permission-approved.html

25 March 2009  - Daily Mail -  Couple branded racist -

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1164755/Council-brands-pensioners-racists-objecting-cost-tidying-travellers.html

18 March 2009 - Brentwood Gazette - 5 gypsy sites given go-ahead

http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/gazette/GIPSY-SITES-GIVEN-AHEAD/article-778478-detail/article.html

27 March 2009 - Reduced number of pitches in Epping Forest confirmed -

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090327/wmstext/90327m0001.htm#09032760000009

10 April 2009 - EFDC website news regarding reduced number of pitches

http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/news/2009/gypsy_and_traveller_pitch_provision_reduced.asp

17 April 2009 - Blackmore - travellers moved in with hard core and tarmac over Easter weekend.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1170464/Travellers-tarmac-new-camp-bank-holiday-weekend-helpless-villagers-watch.html

14 May 2009 - Epping Guardian - Council cannot make gypsy site deadline  -  http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/efnews/4367521.EPPING_FOREST__Council_can_t_meet_gipsy_site_deadline/

01 June 2009 - Daily Mail - Travellers build illegal camp while councils are shut

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1189994/Laughing-law-Travellers-swoop-build-illegal-camps-councils-shut--dont-officials-act.html

11 June 2009 - Daily Mail - Traveller sites booming -

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1192148/Traveller-sites-booming-exploit-Human-Rights-Act-defy-law.html

12 June 2009 - The Sun - Gypsies boast 'we will win'

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2476419/Gypsies-boast-we-will-win.html

18 June 2009 - daily mail - Want to see a GP? Gipsies come first

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1193810/Want-GP-Gipsies-come-NHS-tells-doctors-travellers-seen-straight-away.html

18 June 2009 - £65k to teach us to be more gipsy aware -

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1193506/Council-plans-65k-Gipsy-awareness-month-schools.html

24 June - Eleanor Laing on preferential healthcare for Gypsies & Travellers

http://allaboutepping.blogspot.com/2009/06/preferential-medical-treatment-for.html 

02 July - Daily Mail - £3.5m to evict travellers   -

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?searchPhrase=andrew+levy%2C+3.5m+to+evict+travellers

June - Daily Mail - Gypsies were each given a £60 bribe to show up at a conference telling them how among other things, to get onto an NHS dentist's books.  Why can't they just join the ten-year waiting list like the rest of us.

23 July -  Essex enquirer - Gypsy site Ultimatum  -

http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/Launch.aspx?referral=other&refresh=Kf3104Yb7Hm1&PBID=99a0b5a7-51ed-4b20-8c3d-eec84906afd6&skip=

27 July - Daily Mail - Put gipsy pupils first -

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1198977/Gipsy-children-priority-popular-state-schools.html

Frequently asked questions - http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/council_services/planning/forward_planning/gandt/q13.asp

Broken down points in consultation document for easy reference http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/Council_Services/planning/forward_planning/GandT/consultation_documents.asp

02 Feb 2009 - BBC breakfast TV featured us -E

Epping Forest MP, Eleanor Laing said;-

 "I have met hundreds of my constituents and received enormous numbers of letters and e-mails, so I am well aware of the strength of feeling about this matter. The Epping Forest district already provides a large number of sites for gypsies and travellers - far more than our fair share compared with the rest of the country. The Government is simply wrong to dictate that our little area, much of it restricted by Green Belt and Ancient Forest lands, should provide even more sites.  I am doing all I can to make the Government hear the voice of the people of Epping Forest; it's time they listened to the silent majority”

 JULY 2009 - final numbers of pitches in district confirmed

The action groups comprising Epping Forest District Residents Collective had all individually lobbied the Secretary of State as your community representative's and had provided research, compiled by Thornwood Action, to back up our claims of a further reduction from 34 to 20 pitches and a reduction in the annual percentage increase from 3% to 1%. However the policy for the East of England has just been published and the requirement for the Epping Forest District remains at 34. In January 2006 Epping Forest District had 94 authorised pitches and must now have a minimum of 128 pitches by 2011. The East of England as a whole will have 3,019 pitches by 2011. 'Beyond 2011 provision should be made for an annual 3% compound increase in residential pitch provision equivalent to 1,038 additional pitches between 2011 and 2021 distributed on the basis of districts accommodating the same proportion of the regional requirement. The 3% compound increase in provision will ensure that accommodation will be available to meet the continuing needs after 2011.'

The report also comments that 'Development Plan Documents should consider the need for rural exception sites and the alteration of Green Belt boundaries where necessary, to meet the required provision.'
Read the full report and related documents at:

www.gos.gov.uk/goeast/planning/regional_planning/687221/