- Dave Dawson threatened to remove travellers by force himself after declaring: 'I won't tolerate it.'
- Police say travellers left of their own accord in two hours 50 minutes after Mr Dawson's intervention
By Luke Salkeld
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Not having it: Dave Dawson, left, responded to travellers moving on to his land by leaping into his digger and threatening to move them by force
When he found travellers’ caravans had arrived on his land, Dave Dawson had two options.
He could either alert the authorities and wait for the slow turning of the wheels of justice and officialdom.
Or he could rely on the somewhat quicker wheels of his digger – and remove the caravans by force.
Taking the second course of action, Mr Dawson put in a call to the police to inform them of his intentions, which risked leading to his arrest.
Officers arrived to oversee what appeared to be a few heated exchanges before – remarkably – the travellers left of their own accord.
His swift action stands in stark contrast to the decade-long battle to shift travellers from the notorious Dale Farm site in Essex, which only came to an end in October last year.
Mr Dawson, whose farm is near Shoreham in West Sussex, discovered the intruders early yesterday morning. ‘I would have used any force possible to get them off my land,’ he said. ‘I got down here about 6am and told them to move off. There were four vans there at the time and more parked up outside.
‘I came down with the digger and tractor and told them if they didn’t move I was going to move them.
‘I just won’t tolerate it. It is my land. I bought it and I have worked hard for it. I called the police and told them I was going to get the digger and move them.
‘I didn’t care if they got squashed, flattened or left on their own, but one way or another I was going to get them off my land.’
'It's my land': Undeterred by the sudden arrival of the travellers, Mr Dawson called police and told them he was prepared to remove the intruders by force
'I would have used any force possible': Officers were forced to stand between Mr Dawson's digger and the travellers' caravans to prevent him from carrying out his threats
It is believed that the went to Lancing Green, West Sussex, three miles from Mr Dawson's land
He said that at one point in the clash the officers had to stand between the two sides.
‘The police told me that once they are on the land they have rights. But what about my rights?’ Mr Dawson added.
‘If I had left it to the authorities they could have been on my land for weeks. I wasn’t going to wait for a court order to get rid of them.
‘As it was, the police threatened to arrest me. It has already cost me a day’s work and about 500 to repair the damage. They cut through a metal gate and put their own lock on it.’
A spokesman for Sussex Police said: ‘Six caravans turned up on land at 6.45am. The landowner also turned up and threatened to evict the travellers.
Furious: Officers oversaw what appeared to be several heated exchanges between Mr Dawson and his uninvited guests
A traveller talks to officers: Mr Dawson feared that if he left the eviction to the authorities, the caravans could have been left on his land for weeks
‘Police attended and remained on scene to prevent a breach of peace. The travellers left the site of their own accord at 9.35am.’ Removing travellers who have occupied land without permission is usually a much more costly and time-consuming exercise.
At Dale Farm, the decade-long legal battle cost taxpayers an estimated 18million.
A total of 43 people were arrested and several injured after protesters fought running battles with riot police over the eviction of about 80 families from what was the UK’s largest illegal traveller settlement.
As soon as Basildon council had declared a final victory, there was a massive leap in the number of caravans pitched on the legal Oak Lane site next door – and an adjoining road – prompting more expensive legal action.
In 2009, a convoy pitched up at another controversial travellers’ site just hours after a group had been evicted following a six-year legal battle costing 400,000.
The new arrivals rolled on to a field adjoining the notorious Smithy Fen site at Cottenham, Cambridgeshire, where travellers had set up an illegal camp.
Bye bye: The travellers eventually moved off Mr Dawson's land at 9.45am - three hours after they had arrived
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Battle of the beach resorts – Skegness accused of putting down rivals Blackpool and Brighton - Daily Telegraph
Local newspapers in both resorts took the decision not to carry the new advert.
“Skeggy” or as it’s affectionately known “The Costa del Skeg”, also claims to be “England’s cultural coast” where “great art and coast come together”.
Blackpool attracts about 13 million visitors each year, with plans in place for a £220m transformation of the resort's centre, while more than eight million people flock to Brighton annually.
In comparison Skegness only welcomes around four million visitors each year, generating £450m for the local economy.
Last year it was described in the Lonely Planet guide as "good family fun if you immerse yourself in the whole tacky spectacle".
But James Gilbert, ELDC’s communications team leader, who commissioned the idea, said the campaign said that view was 30 years out of date
“We want to challenge people’s perceptions and showcase the amazing art, culture, dance, theatre and music that is staged in the town,” he added.
“These adverts are highlighting alternative views, we hope to entice people into having a look at what Skegness has to offer.
“Obviously, Brighton and Blackpool attract more visitors than Skegness and we are not seeking to insult anyone who lives there or visits there.
"We are not trying to upset anyone, it's a bit of friendly rivalry," he said.
Skegness is hoping to get publicity for an "amazing summer of events", which includes So Festival and the Olympic Torch Relay on 27 June.
But Claire Smith, from the guesthouse and hoteliers association Stay Blackpool, said it was a "dirty tricks" campaign.
She said: "Skegness is a lovely little place and this campaign isn't drawing me in, in fact it's making me think about Blackpool and Brighton.
"It is difficult times. Blackpool has an abundance of stuff going on all summer as well, as I am sure Brighton has, but I don't think this campaign is the way to attract visitors," she said.
Both Skegness and Blackpool are featured in a TV advertising campaign to encourage Britons to take their holidays at home in 2012.
Skegness once relied on The Jolly Fisherman with the slogan “So bracing” to promote the town in reference to the chilly north-easterly winds that whipped the beach off the North Sea.
A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: “Good luck to them. It’s slightly hard to tell what they’re getting at, however.
“As Brighton is widely known as a successful, buzzing, cultural place, with England’s biggest arts festival, claiming to be dissimilar is a strange strategy.
“But if Skegness wants to remind thousands of people that Brighton is here, that’s fine.”
Former Brighton city council leader Mary Mears said: “There’s a big difference between the two.
“Those people that visit Skegness maybe would not want to go again whereas we get lots of repeat customers in Brighton and Hove.”
Robin Morley, of Brighton-based Magnetic Events, is directing So Festival later this month.
He said: “I do have cross loyalties as Brighton is my home but have worked with East Lindsey council for three years.
“I think the advert shows Brighton and Hove has two sides to it, like any town or city.”
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
The calm before the 'once in 50 years' storm: Forecasters predict major flooding as huge low sweeps in from the Atlantic - Daily Mail
- Temperatures up to 10C below normal and sunshine down 60 per cent in worst June since records began
- Emergency services issue a 'major flood' alert in the South-West and Wales as Atlantic front sweeps in
- After a dry spell yesterday and today, downpours and gusts are set to return with a vengeance tonight
- Environment Agency issues two warnings where flooding was expected and 12 where possible today
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Britain is at risk of being lashed by a once in 50 years storm, forecasters warned today.
The Weather Channel said rivers would be overwhelmed and warned of a 'major flooding event' as Nasa released this satellite picture of a huge low sweeping in from the Atlantic.
Forecasters at the Met Office have already predicted 60mph hurricane-force winds will bring three months of rain over the next three days, making June the wettest since records began.
Flying high... while they can: Paragliders take advantage of break in the miserable weather over Beachy Head and Eastbourne in East Sussex today
Making the most of it: The paragliders may have to back up they chutes soon, though, as more downpours are sweeping their way across the UK today
Emergency services issued a flood alert in the South-West and Wales last night with eight inches of rain expected as a massive front of terrible weather sweeps in from the Atlantic.
Forecasters said England and Wales’ appalling June weather is officially the worst since records began more than 100 years ago. The countries are on course for the wettest ever June, temperatures are up to 10C below normal and sunshine is down 60 per cent.
After a dry period of respite for many parts of Britain yesterday and today, the wet weather will return this evening and get worse going into tomorrow as a slow-moving area of low pressure brings thundery showers and strong winds.
It's coming: NASA's Terra satellite took this stunning image of today's 70mph Atlantic storm at 12.45pm as it span towards the South-West
Weather Channel forecaster Leon Brown said: 'There’s a 50 per cent possibility of extreme downpours seeing over 80mm of rain in 12 hours in south and east Wales, which is a once-in-50 years event.
'The greatest intensity of rain will be early Thursday night and again on Friday daytime. Overall, up to 110mm is expected in Wales in just over 48 hours to midnight Saturday.
With yet more rain and stormy weather forecast, Freya Kirkpatrick , 4, takes a last chance to play in the sunshine with her dog, Monty, in a giant field of ox eye daisies on the edge of Blithfield Reservoir near Rugeley, Staffordshire
'This rainfall will be widespread across river catchment areas and could completely overwhelm rivers downstream. There is a high risk of flooding, with situation made even worse by ground being saturated from previous rain this week.'
MeteoGroup forecaster Julian Mayes said: 'We cannot find a period of June weather worse than this month since records began. For a 12-day period, it’s as bad as it can be.
'There’s no parallel with this month’s combination of very high rainfall, very low sunshine and very low daytime temperatures.
'The outlook is unsettled and although we don’t yet know for sure if it will be the wettest June, it’s well on the way.'
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said its 650 firefighters and 100 support staff were ready to take flood action.
A spokesperson said: 'Ourselves, the police and county council are monitoring the weather forecast and will take appropriate action when needed. We have vast experience dealing with flooding, in particular floods which devastated Cornwall in November 2010.'
Calm before the storm: The sky above the Queens tennis club on day three of the AEGON Championships in London hint at what is to come later today
Enjoy it while it lasts: For much of today, however, the sun has been trying to come out, but the reprieve will only be temporary, forecasters warn
When 80mm of rain fell in 24 hours in west Wales last Friday, 150 people were rescued and 850 relocated as 5ft floods swept through caravan parks and villages.
Government forecasters predicted 15-20mm of rain today, plus 70-100mm over higher ground in 48 hours from midnight, with 30-50mm on lower ground.
The Weather Channel forecast more than 100mm on higher ground and warned of a 'major flooding event.' Rivers running off higher ground will fill rapidly.
The Met Office forecast wind gusts to hit a gale-force of 55mph-60mph on coasts in the South-West tomorrow.
Other parts of the UK will escape the worst of the conditions, with up to an inch of rain across tomorrow and Saturday, with 35-40mph gusts, the Met Office said.
Who says the weather's bad? Two girls from Oregon in the U.S. enjoy ice creams on one of the bridges that straddle the village of Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire
Sunshine after the rain: A young lady takes advantage of the weather in a deckchair in St James's Park, London, today before the downpours sweep in
Gusts on the horizon: The flags in Parliament Square, London, have been blowing more vigorously today, indicating that the expected high winds of up to 60mph could soon be upon us
Temperatures have been miserable for many. Forest Row, E Sussex, only reached 10.7C on Tuesday, almost 10C below normal for June.
Sunshine is down 60 per cent so far this month, with England and Wales averaging just 30 hours’ sunshine. June normally sees 178 hours’ sunshine.
Although there have been heavy showers in parts of the South West, Wales and the North West, parts of the country which were on flood alert after days of heavy rain were given breathing space yesterday with clear skies in the South East and London.
The break in the weather came as three of the UK’s biggest water companies announced they would lift hosepipe bans, imposed to deal with drought, following weeks of heavy rain.
Thames Water, Anglian Water and Southern Water were to remove the restrictions in place since early April from today.
Seven water companies across southern and eastern England brought in hosepipe bans after two unusually dry winters left some groundwater supplies and rivers as low as in the drought year of 1976.
The Environment Agency had urged people in Devon, Cornwall, west Somerset, North Wales and parts of the Midlands to remain prepared for the possibility of floods as the Met Office issued a weather warning for heavy rain.
At one point yesterday the EA had five flood warnings in place for rivers where flooding was expected, and 21 less serious flood alerts.
There were also 17 flood alerts, mainly in East Anglia and the South East.
Underwater: The ford near Charvil, Berkshire, which flooded to a depth of 6ft after heavy rain hit parts of the UK. Temperatures are up to 10C below normal and sunshine is down 60 per cent
AT A GLANCE: WHAT'S IN STORE FOR REST OF THE WEEK
TONIGHT: Much of the UK will see heavy rain spreading north with some torrential downpours expected.
Wales and south-west England will have clear spells developing during the early hours, but with heavy and thundery showers too.
The far north of Scotland will remain dry overnight with clear spells, but turning cloudy towards morning.
TOMORROW: There will be a band of heavy rain across northern
England, southern Scotland and Northern Ireland at first, which will move
north into much of northern Scotland through the day. The rest of England and Wales will have sunny spells and heavy and frequent showers and thunderstorms.
SATURDAY: A rather cloudy day with the best of any sunshine in the south-east. There will be widespread heavy showers or longer spells of rain across much of the UK with the risk of
thunder, particularly across northern England, Wales and south-west
England. Windy across southern England with gusts reaching up to 50mph.
SUNDAY: There will be variable cloud and scattered showers, but the
showers will be lighter and less frequent than the showers on Saturday.
Today, that had been downgraded to two warnings where flooding was expected and 12 where it was possible over the next 12 hours.
Sussex Police, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and council officers said they evacuated people from flooded homes in the village of Elmer, near Bognor Regis, after reports of flooding of up to 6ft in some homes.
Inflatable boats were used to reach 250 vulnerable homes, knocking on doors and searching properties to make sure people were safe and received the help they needed, a Sussex Police spokeswoman said.
MeteoGroup said that the highest rainfall had been at Culdrose in Cornwall, where 16mm fell, with 13mm in Nantwich, Cheshire.
Forecaster Tom Tobler said the bad weather at the end of the week could bring strong winds but not as strong as those experienced last week.
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: 'We’re asking people in Devon, Cornwall, West Somerset, north Wales and parts of the Midlands to remain vigilant and prepared for flooding.
'We urge caravan and camping site operators across the South-West to be ready to take action should flooding occur.
'Heavy rain has left many areas more vulnerable to flooding. We advise the public stay away from swollen rivers and not to drive through floodwater.
'We’re speaking to councils and emergency services and sharing severe weather alerts.'
The Met Office said: 'The UK has seen exceptionally wet weather and there’s more rain to come.
'A spell of wet and windy weather with persistent heavy rain will affect parts of the South-West and Wales from late Thursday through Friday and Saturday.
'It looks like Friday and Saturday will see 10-20mm of rain quite widely, with an additional 20-30mm across the South-West and Wales and 60-80mm over higher ground the South-West and south Wales.
'The public advised to take extra care and should be aware of the risk of localised flooding.'
Weather Channel forecaster Leon Brown said: 'We are very likely to see a repeat of the major flooding events that happened in Wales and Sussex in the last week.
'Higher hills are forecast to see over 100mm, with local flash flooding is likely anywhere in Wales and across much of England on Saturday with 20-30mm of rain possible in a few hours.
'There’s a risk of trees being blown down on Friday, and Channel ferry crossings will be very rough.'
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Rusty ready for Sussex t20 debut - Lewes Today
FAST bowler Rusty Theron is set to make his debut for Sussex this evening when the Sharks open their T20 campaign against Hampshire Royals under the floodlights at Hove.
After Tuesday night’s scheduled T20 game at Kent Spitfires was rained off, tonight’s meeting at the PROBIZ County Ground starts at 7.10pm where both South African Rusty and Scott Styris will be making their FL t20 bows in Sussex colours.
26 year-old Theron was delighted to completing a deal that will see him play in all of Sussex’s Twenty20 games, writes James Herd: “I’m thrilled to be here. I came here about five years ago to play some club cricket and really enjoyed my time.”
Theron played for Brighton and Hove at club level five years ago, a factor that played a big part in his decision to join the Sharks. “It’s amazing looking back, it’s gone full circle.
“I came here as an amateur player and five years later I come back an international player and the overseas pro for Sussex.”
“I love the city, I love the people and along the way I’ve made some really good friends.”
Having played this format of cricket all over the world, including the IPL, Theron is well aware of the challenges of playing in a different country: “I think it will be a different experience. I went to the West Indies, Australia, New Zealand and it’s been five years since I’ve been here in England.
“The first time I came here, it was quite an adjustment. For me it’s about settling down as quickly as possibly.
“There’s so much cricket these days you don’t have a whole lot of time to settle down. We were in India the other day, now ten days later I’m in England. You just go with it, you can’t do much about it.”
The openly excited seamer was keen to highlight the progress of the younger players as reason to look forward to the upcoming challenge: “I’m excited to see how the younger guys go, in Matt Machan, Will Beer and Ben Brown. There are some really exciting young players coming through.”
It was somewhat of a false start on Tuesday night when the Sharks’ opener with Kent Spitfires was abandoned at Canterbury without a ball being bowled so tonight will be the first action in this season’s tournament for both sides.
Sussex have named an unchanged squad from earlier in the week for tonight’s televised encounter.
The full squad: Amjad Khan, Will Beer, Ben Brown, Joe Gatting, Murray Goodwin, Chris Liddle, Matt Machan, Chris Nash, Scott Styris, Juan Theron, Luke Wright, Michael Yardy.
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Print this pageSource: www.sussexexpress.co.uk
Wembley ironman to take on 'brutal' challenge in Germany for St Lukes Hospice - Harrow Times
Wembley ironman to take on 'brutal' challenge in Germany for St Lukes Hospice
4:38pm Thursday 14th June 2012 in News By Anna Slater
A bus driver who was always picked last in school sports teams is taking on the Ironman challenge for charity in July.
Peter Corcoran, of Mostyn Avenue, Wembley, is representing Ireland in the brutal European championships for St Luke’s Hospice.
He will be joined by hundreds of others of competitors from all over the world during the televised swim, cycle and run challenge in Germany.
The 43-year-old said he spends on average eight hours a day practicing in the hopes that his courageous efforts will pay off.
He said: “It’s tough and a massive thing to be committing yourself to. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and am really panicked about what I’m letting myself in for. I am training ridiculous amounts when I’m not working.
“But I have wanted to do this for so long, and knowing that I am supporting such a worthy cause is really keeping me motivated. I hope people sponsor me because I want to raise as much money as possible.”
Mr Corcoran said that when he was 16, he saw a man wearing an Ironman shirt as he completed a marathon.
“From that point on, I knew I wanted to be an Ironman. I thought it was very fitting given that I was so bad at sports when I was in school. That’s been my goal ever since, to win a medal at the championships.”
The former Tokyngton councillor has just 15 hours to complete the course, even though he has seconds to get from the pool after his 4km swim to his bike for a 180km cycle.
He then has to complete a 42km run.
He has been supported by his girlfriend of eight years, Ieva, who he says always cheers him on during practices.
Mr Corcoran also hopes to make it to the world Ironman championships within a few years.
“That would really be a fantastic honour. I will be so proud of myself if I can make it because it’s been my dream for so long.”
To sponsor Mr Corcoran, visit www.justgiving.com/Peter-Corcoran1
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Source: www.harrowtimes.co.uk
Good on you Sir I salute you!
- Super Kev, London England, 14/6/2012 16:23
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