Bluebell Wood Urban Resistance

The madness of local council planning was highlighted perfectly in Bluebell Wood in the heart of urban Manchester. Despite the fact that there are some 420 hectares of derelict land across the city, the council, university and developers (Browns of Wilmslow) decided to trash the last remaining woodland in South Manchester to build flats for 500 students with car parking spaces for 100 cars (about 30% of the land take). After delaying work for three weeks through the legal system the notice to quit was inevitably served.

The camp had a number of visits from Special Branch who refused to show any ID. When local police were called, these dodgy looking blokes went into a huddle with the police liaison officer who declared that he was satisfied. On one occasion they were followed around site until they left but only after they pushed one activist and broke her camera.

During the eviction some of the more novel tactics included a lock-on in an old round metal wheely bin filled with concrete up a tree. The suspended sofa and arm chair in the trees were not great defensive positions but made for a comfortable eviction!. Whilst trying to invade site a 14-year old was thrown over a 6 foot fence by security and despite his injuries the only response from the police was laughter. The reason he had to re-invade was because the evicters came so late that he had left site to go to school! Another person was hurt after throwing himself under a lorry transporting the cherry-picker.

A lock-on and tunnel dweller who saw the first day through were joined by several people who re-invaded the site over night, ensuring a second day of fun and costs. Cheering crowds provided support for those still on site and hurled abuse at the contractors. Apart from one woman whose house overlooks the "messy" wood and who is soon going to realise that trees are better neighbours than students.