Meriden gipsy battle to go before European Court of Human Rights

CAMPAIGNERS battling to stop gipsies building a caravan site in Meriden are taking their fight to the European Court of Human Rights.

Residents of Meriden, Warwickshire, want to boot out travellers who moved onto a nearby green belt site on May 1.

Solihull Borough Council last week allowed diggers through protestors’ human barricades to provide the gipsies with basic drainage systems and a fence around a pond.

The council says the temporary work was necessary to comply with health and safety laws. A 28-day stop notice means anyone carrying out further work would be committing a criminal offence.

The council won a high court injunction banning building work pending any planning permission. Councillors are due to consider planning officers’ recommendations they refuse planning consent for a ten-pitch development to make a permanent home for the gipsies. But an appeal could follow whoever wins, with a decision six months away.


(2010-07-06/Coventry Telegraph )