| The Government was today facing the European
Court of Human Rights over the eviction of a travelling family from a
council site in Leeds.
The family were removed from the site at Cottingley three years ago
after allegations they were responsible for vandalism and anti-social
behaviour.
Their lawyers argue that unlike council house tenants facing eviction,
the family were denied the right or opportunity to answer the allegations
in court.
Judges in the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, will
rule on the case, which could lead to a change in British law to give
travellers the same rights as council tenants to answer charges against
them if they face eviction.
The Connors family lived on Leeds City Council's travellers' site at Cottingley
Springs for 13 years.
The council said some members of the family -– two adult sons –
had caused a nuisance and terrorised other residents. But lawyers representing
the family said the sons did not live on the site.
The council won a High Court warrant authorising eviction of the family,
comprising Jim Connors, 45, wife Esther and children Charles, 14, Michael,
13, Dan, 11, and an eight-month-old baby.
Personal appeals against the eviction were made by Leeds West MP John
Battle and by the Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Rev David Konstant.
On August 1, 2000, more than 50 police officers backed by the police helicopter,
dogs, bailiffs and security officers were employed to evict the family,
who had erected barricades and put up placards protesting their innocence.
The family's solicitor, Keith Lomax, said: "When council tenants
face eviction they can test the accusations against them.
"They can be represented in court. Travellers cannot."
A spokeswoman from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, acting for the
Government, said it would be inappropriate to comment at this time.
©peter.lazenby@ypn.co.uk |
John
Battle Member of Parliament for West Leeds.