A BID by Irish Travellers facing eviction in Essex to have a scaffold arch erected at the entrance to the Dale Farm caravan site declared as an architecturally protected structure has been rejected.
The Travellers claimed the scaffold should be listed as it had become “the emblem of the struggle for Travellers’ rights” in Britain.
The application, which surprised English Heritage when it was received yesterday, was rejected within hours.
Heritage secretary John Penrose said he accepted the heritage body’s advice that the structure did not qualify for special protection.
“Although clearly a structure which is significant for the Travellers at Dale Farm, the tubular steel, wood and rubber construction holds no special architectural or historic interest and does not therefore meet the criteria for listing,” he said.
Earlier, English Heritage said the application was “highly unusual”, but it was obliged to consider it: “Buildings under 30 years old are normally listed only if they are of outstanding quality, in architectural and historic terms, and under threat. Our response will be released very shortly.”
One of Dale Farm’s residents, Kathleen McCarthy, said: “We’re here to fight for our rights to a normal family life, for our children to get an education and for us to have security for our homes.
“The tower is all that stands between ourselves and the bailiffs. As long as it remains standing, we know that there are people outside our community who still care about our rights.”
The clearance of Dale Farm by Basildon Borough Council had been expected to begin last week but it has been delayed because of a new round of legal actions.
