Eco-Police In Arresting Roads Action
NVDA has broken out near Bamber Bridge in Lancashire. Ancient woodland which boasts delightful 200 year old beeches will be trashed for the £142m M65 extension (the most expensive road in the current roads programme). The road will cut across Cuerden Valley Nature Park and 12 miles of Lancashire greenbelt. As we go to press, 17 tree houses are still standing although clearance is going on around them. A 120 year old compulsorily purchased farmhouse, one of two squats, has recently been destroyed. In its first life it was a police station, and protesters painted its external walls green with a black and white chequered band. This 'eco-police station' was used as an information centre before being securely barricaded with false walls, barrels etc, ready for eviction. Underground police cells were brought back into use as protesters hollowed out the foundations in the name of high security (high risk?) lock on points. The 2 protesters, still attached to their barrel, were eventually gingerly removed from their burrow 7 hours into the eviction.
It was a severe case of over policing. The 25 protesters incarcerated in the house or handcuffed to the roof apparently merited traffic diversions and temporary traffic lights. The obligatory 100 G4 yellowcoats were out in force. About 30 Bailiffs on the whole ‘very fluffy’: peaceful, tree loving, and they came bearing cups of tea.
A court summons from Tar MacGregor was ‘returned to sender’, together with copies of the UK biodiversity and sustainability strategies. (Penned in the loving hand of a certain J Major)
Actions have included a 60 hour crane sit (without food or water, nice one G4). On 7th June tarmac workers and G4 illegally evicted land held by the protesters. Trees were bulldozed with their occupants still intact, one person was hurt as they were pulled out of a bulldozer. Other injuries have been sustained as people have fallen out of trees. Spare harnesses anyone? Security on the increase, woodland eviction could come any time now. There are still 12 miles of beautiful countryside to squat.
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