On Tuesday the 24th of August, a family of Travellers called the Smiths who live on a piece of land at Paynes Lane, Nazeing, Epping were told by the council to leave. They did not leave their land, which they have owned for fourteen years, because they have nowhere else to go. The mother of the family Linda Smith is now in hospital, partly because of the stress of impending homelessness on an already ill woman. Before she was rushed to hospital on Monday the 23rd she was worried how she would make a hospital appointment on Friday. The Smiths will now wait while Epping council applies for a warrant for their arrest. For the crime of living on the land they own the family may serve up to six months in prison.
Peter Robb has already served a 28-day sentence for living on his land at Colney Hatch. The council refuses to give these people an alternative site, preferring to cast an unwell and old couple onto the road, where there will be only illegal and unsafe places to park. Harry and Linda Smith have never lived in a house, and to do so would destroy their way of life, a life that British Travellers have lived in this country for six hundred years. There are three British National party councillors on the Epping Forest Council, they and the rest of the council want to remove Travellers from the area. This is not unique to this area; this policy shows how a so-called 'multi-cultural' Britain does not respect its oldest minority group.

We gave out leaflets to the locals and had a long 'conversation' with councillor John Knapman, during which he shed crocodile tears about the Smiths and used euphemisms like 'the process' for what he was doing. Apparently now its so 'high profile' he cannot let them stay, he must be seen to be ruthlessly throwing ill pensioners onto the street. However in the council's own planning guidelines, racist as they are,advise that "Gypsies" can be granted planning permission on Green belt if there are specail circumstances.
Anyway we advised John Knapman that we will be back, as the council will clearly continue its racist policies against Travellers- please take the time to ring or email on the details below and let them know what you think. If you could come on a future protest, please contact us at  nooneisillegal2003@yahoo.co.uk

Epping Forest District Council
Civic Offices
High Street
Epping
Essex CM16 4BZ 2PM - 6PM
Telephone: 01992 564 000
E-mail:  information@eppingforestdc.gov.uk
Or contact Penny Smith Conservative Councillor for Broadley Common, Epping Upland and Nazeing Ward
Tel: 01992577648 email:  pennysmith@epping.co.uk
The three BNP Councillors in Epping are Terence Farr (Loughton Alderton),Thomas Richardson (Loughton Broadway) 0208 281 0806 and Patricia Richardson (Loughton Fairmead)  richardson_pat@hotmail.com