Gypsy and Traveller Cases Archives - Page 6 of 8

Gypsy and Traveller Cases

R (O’Brien & Anr) -v- Bristol City Council

Posted by clp-admin9th August, 201423rd January, 2017 Traveller unauthorised encampment eviction

R (O’Brien & Anr) -v- Bristol City Council (Secretary of State for Transport intervening) [2014] EWHC 2423 (Admin)

By Joe Markus of Garden Court North Chambers (who represented the O’Briens)

This case concerned the eviction of the O’Brien family from an unauthorised encampment off West Town Road under the Avonmouth Bridge, which carries the M5 motorway. The claim was issued in the High Court as a judicial review of the Council’s decision to seek possession due to the absence of legal aid for trespassers to defend possession proceedings brought against them.

Connors & Others -v- SSCLG & Others

Posted by clp-admin9th August, 201423rd January, 2017 Traveller planning

Connors, Connors, Doran, Sines and Lee v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and others [2014] EWHC 2358 (Admin) 11 July 2014

This case involved 5 High Court planning appeals and applications under either Section 288 or Section 289 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 that were all heard together. All of these cases had been recovered by the SSCLG under his powers to do so and in line with the Written Ministerial Statements of 1^st July 2013 and 17^th January 2014.

Smith -v- SSCLG & South Bucks District Council

Posted by clp-admin9th August, 201423rd January, 2017 Traveller planning

Billy Smith -v- Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and South Buckinghamshire District Council [2014] EWHC 935 (Admin) 1 April 2014

The Appellant in this case sought permission for a Gypsy site in the Green Belt. This was refused by the local authority and also by the Planning Inspector. He appealed against the Inspector’s decision.

Ball -v- SSCLG & Brentwood Borough Council

Posted by clp-admin16th July, 201423rd January, 2017 Traveller planning

Ball – v – Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Brentwood Borough Council [2014] EWCA Civ 372, 11 March 2014.

The Appellant was seeking planning permission for change of use of land to provide 6 residential Gypsy/Traveller pitches. This was refused by the local authority and he appealed to the Planning Inspector. Mr Pickles, the Constituency MP, put in a strong objection to the appeal.

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council -v- Armour

Posted by clp-admin19th May, 201423rd January, 2017 Article 8

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council -v- Armour [2014] EWCA Civ 231, 12 March 2014

This is not a Gypsy or Traveller case but is very important from the point of view of Article 8 of the Human Rights Act 1998. Mr Armour was an introductory tenant of the local authority. After three incidents of anti-social behaviour early on in the tenancy, the Council began proceedings for possession.

Flynn -v- SSCLG and Basildon BC

Posted by clp-admin19th May, 201423rd January, 2017 Traveller planning

Flynn -v- Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (SSCLG) and Basildon Borough Council [2014] EWHC 390 (Admin), 20 February 2014

Mrs Flynn was one of the Travellers evicted from the Dale Farm site in November 2011. She moved her caravan to an access track leading to Dale Farm. On 24^th July 2012, Basildon DC (as they then were) served an Enforcement Notice on Mrs Flynn.

Forest of Dean DC -v- SSCLG and Jones

Posted by clp-admin19th May, 201423rd January, 2017 Traveller planning

Forest of Dean District Council -v- Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Ricky Jones [2013] EWHC 4052 (Admin), 20 December 2013

In this case an application for planning permission was made for a Gypsy site near to some listed buildings.

R (Hand) -v- SSCLG

Posted by clp-admin19th May, 201423rd January, 2017 Traveller planning

R (Hand) -v- Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government [2014] EWHC 314 (Admin), 23 January 2014

Town and County Planning Act 1990 Section 171 B (3) states that enforcement action can be taken against the use of land in general within 10 years from the use commencing. However, use of a building as a dwellinghouse becomes immune from enforcement and, therefore, lawful after 4 years.

Slattery -v- Basildon Borough Council

Posted by clp-admin19th May, 201423rd January, 2017 Traveller homelessness

Slattery v Basildon BC [2014] EWCA Civ 30, 22 January 2014

Ms Slattery was one of the Irish Travellers who were evicted from the Dale Farm site. Thereafter she moved to a different part of the site where she continued to occupy the land in question unlawfully. She applied as a homeless person and was offered bricks and mortar accommodation which she refused.

Ward -v- South Cambridgeshire DC

Posted by clp-admin19th May, 201423rd January, 2017 Traveller other

R (Ward) v South Cambridgeshire DC, [2014] EWHC 521 (Admin), 4 February 2014

The local authority manages Gypsy and Traveller sites in South Cambridgeshire at Blackwell and Whaddon. Ms Ward is an Irish Traveller and the mother of six children. She currently lives in privately rented accommodation. She has been on the waiting list for a pitch on one of the two sites managed by the local authority since March 2010.