Don't Let Twyford Down!

Two recent actions at Twyford Down broke national news. Roger from Lea Valley recalls the events.

18th February

The real fun began after a whole day of waiting and seeing. The police had asked us all to move off or note facing an injunction for arrest. But it gave us Earth First!ers an opportunity to take stock of the situation, and after holding a meeting, we were driven to the A33 bypass.

Aided by a beautiful moon, we crossed under the old railway viaduct, and over fields towards our target - a crane on the southernmost of the two bridges due for demolition. The contractors had laid out their equipment almost to our satisfaction - the controls for the lights being right next to the the field we came off - so switches were thrown and the whole bridge plunged into darkness.

People scrambled onto the crane and chained themselves, etc... Quite quickly the whole area was flooded by light, from T.V. crews who had lain in wait, expecting some form of eco-tage.

The Twyford Down Association came from one direction and added to the confusion with their own protest!

The police and contractors were quite thrown out by all this - add to this people singing and waving banners on the other side of the bridge and the scene was set for an evening’s entertainment, with food and drinks generously provided by the locals.

It took the police a whole one and a half hours before they could get reinforcements in and get the situation “under control” and make arrests. Amongst those arrested was a Green Party member!

The contractors began work again at 11.20 and poor Jason, kryptonited to an axle, had to endure their going ons until he was rescued about twelve thirty, someone having finally discovered the key around his neck.