Ashton Court Quarry

Ashton Court, a park of rich meadows bordered on three sides by ancient woodland, was designated to the people of Bristol 100 years ago. It is currently under threat from plans by multinational Pioneer Aggregates who are suggesting moving a wildflower meadow as part of their plans to quarry a further 20 acres of Ashton Court Estate.

None too happy about this idea, campaigners blockaded the entrance to the quarry recently and locked themselves on to a Land Rover conveniently parked in the entrance. Spirits were kept high by tea, toast and music while roads leading into the quarry were lined with waiting lorries and police riot vans. Six arrests for aggravated trespass were made.

After the action, Pioneer attempted a bungling public relations exercise by claiming that an amount of oil (varying between 1000 litres and 1000 gallons according to which paper you read) had been spilt by campaigners. Ashton Court activists have described this ruse to be so transparent that it is practically invisible, claiming that such a large amount of oil would be clearly visible yet there have been no witnesses to this oil and no criminal investigation is underway. They refer us to a similar case a couple of years ago after an action at Whatley Quarry when it was claimed that oil had been spilt yet it was later proven to have been leaking on the site for quite some time before the protest took place.

Contact 0117 9393093 for details of the next weekend of action on 14 - 16 November.