Strathclyde Road Planning Office Occupied

On 22nd April around 40 EF!ers occupied the office of the road planning department of the Strathclyde regional council in protest at controversial plans to construct the £70.2 million 11km-long M77 motorway extension through Glasgow’s Pollok Estate - the largest green urban area in Europe.

At 8:00 am activists entered the building to disrupt the move of the regional council’s roadbuilding department into the new premises. The activists occupied the 5th floor and staged a constant picket outside for 3 hours after which they left of their own choice. Work in the entire building was severely disrupted for the morning. The group occupied and padlocked the doors of the regional roads department, and hung banners from the rear of the building and stopped employees entering. The police had to call the Fire Brigade to cut the padlocks and several had chained themselves to desks before leaving after three hours of agitation. There were no arrests, and then it was time for “an arse kicking party”.

Pollok Park, a 1008 acre area of woodland and fields, was given to the people of Glasgow and given legal protection in 1939. It was a gift by Sir John Stirling Maxwell and marked the beginning of the National Trust for Scotland, who have been entrusted to protect it from development, but have since sold the area needed for the road to Strathclyde regional council. Part of the route has already been constructed but was postponed due to lack of funds. More money has since been collected, including funding from the European Union, and construction work may begin December 1994.

.....and Scottish Nuclear

The Scottish Nuclear headquarters in East Kilbride near Glasgow were also invaded. A full report of the action will be forthcoming shortly.