A Government Minister has called on Leeds councillors to halt the eviction of a travelling family who have barricaded themselves on an official site. He says the council’s insistence on sending bailiffs to evict the family – including three school age children and a baby – raises major questions of human rights.

Foreign Office Minister John Battle, who is MP for Leeds West, has intervened with the leader of Leeds City Council and the city’s housing chief.

Mr Battle is in Central America on Government business but sent a statement to the council via his Leeds office voicing his concern over the plight of the Connors family, who have lived for the last 13 years in their trailer at Cottingley Springs, an official traveller’s site in south Leeds.

The council has cited alleged bad behaviour by two adult members of the family, but they no longer live on the site.The family say they have not been allowed to put their case or deny the allegations in court.They have erected barricades around their trailer to prevent eviction.Mr Battle said he was "increasingly alarmed" at the imminent eviction, which was expected to take place on Friday.

He said: "I must ask once again that Leeds City Council call a halt to this process and allow some time to look at the letters, etc, coming in supporting the Connors, and to reassess the case in the light of human rights issues raised."Mr Battle added: "Mrs Connor’s mother is in hospital and needs her daughter near."The youngest child is not well and has to have regular hospital appointments."

©John Battle MP 1st Aug 2000