Updated: Protest over travellers' site

About 50 residents, local politicians armed with placards and banners, and Billericay Tory MP John Baron staged a singing demonstration outside the Department for Communities and Local Government offices yesterday.

They demanded a Government investigation into the Dale Farm traveller site at Oak Lane, Crays Hill.

The demo was prompted by the Echo's Travellers: The Truth series which exposed links between the huge illegal encampment and other sites across the south east, as well as mansions in the Irish town of Rathkeale.

Security guards from Mrs Kelly's department kept a close watch as the group demanded the Secretary of State meet them and order a probe into our revelations.

TV, radio and newspaper reporters were blocked from the building, but Mr Baron and a small number of protesters were allowed in to deliver a letter, including the event's organiser, Laindon Park councillor Tory John Dornan.

The letter demanded:

* Mrs Kelly takes evidence in the Echo articles into account when making her decision over the future of Dale Farm which is due to be made by February 28.

* She orders a separate wider Government probe into links between illegal traveller sites and homes in Rathkeale.

* Mrs Kelly agrees to meet residents of the settled community so they can hear their side of the story about living next to Europe's biggest illegal camp.

Campaigners met Mr Baron in committee room 19 of the House of Commons for talks, also snubbed by Mrs Kelly, after travelling from Crays Hill by coach.

Mr Baron said: "We need a broader inquiry because the planning inquiry only looks at Dale Farm. Research by the Echo has revealed links between Dale farm and other sites, which casts doubt over traveller claims they have nowhere else to go.

"No one is looking to discriminate against a minority, but we need to be fair with all information and ask this research is considered before Mrs Kelly reaches her decision over Dale Farm."

Residents speak out

Residents spoke of feeling encouraged by taking part in the protest.

Many have remained silent for years because of fears of reprisals or threats from travellers, but yesterday some broke their silence for the first time.

Ann Smyth, 25, from Oak Road, said: "I am absolutely, definitely pleased I came along and have no doubt it will have an effect.

"If Mrs Kelly does not listen to us now this will have implications across the whole country."

Barrie Bond, 59, of London Road, said: "I wish we had done something like this earlier and hope it has an effect.

"Fifty years ago in Crays Hill couples who got married had to move out because they were not allowed to build on green belt."

John Rogers, 50, of Crays Hill Road, said: "This was a long time coming and you have got to make the effort.

"I am not sure what effect it will have though. We can't have a no-go area where the police and council are terrified to go."

Nobby Smith, 77, of Crays Hill Road, said: "We have had to do this and I hope it helps, but it should have been stopped in the first place a long time ago.

"It was all green fields before."

Harry Scott, also from Crays Hill, added: "With the Echo's evidence and the book The Outsiders by Eamon Dillon about links to Rathkeale, I don't think the Government could possibly ignore this. It would be a scandal if they did.

"What we need now is MPs across the county to join up to give us a voice."

David McPherson Davis said: "We will now have to wait and see if Mrs Kelly listens. We have done what we had to do and made our case loud and clear. The Echo has shown this needs investigating."

Tory Billericay MP John Baron said: "We have certainly made an impact and I have been promised a response about if it will take the Echo evidence into account before the inquiry decision is announced.

"It was great to see local residents in Parliament today. If the Government won't meet them, then I think it is important protests like this go ahead in order to make the point that local people will not be ignored."