Travellers challenge eviction

A legal battle which will test council powers to move new age travellers from municipal land edged closer last week when two groups won injunctions preventing their eviction.

Travellers from Crowborough, East Sussex, and Temple Bruer, Lincolnshire, can remain on the land until a full High Court hearing is held. They are seeking a judicial review of Wealden and Lincolnshire county councils' decision to evict them under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act.

Solicitors from the Public Law Project, which is bringing the case on behalf of the groups, argue that the evictions contradict the 1989 Children's Act by forcing hardship on travellers' children.

The councils had obtained a magistrates' court order to secure the evictions. Under the new Act, it is an offence to ignore such an order. Mr Justice Buxton says the travellers have an arguable case which should be heard as soon as possible.