Kingston Camp

In the latest inner city tree occupation, protestors have taken to the trees in Kingston, west London to try and prevent 56 poplar trees in Canbury Gardens, a public river walk on the side of the Thames, from being felled. A beech and an oak tree at either end of the line of poplars are not threatened; treehouses have been built in them and in three other poplars. Walkways are being constructed between all the poplars and the tree houses at the moment.

The poplar trees stand between a luxury residential development, under construction, and the River Thames. The council agreed to allow the builder to cut down the trees as part of the consent to the original planning application. However, locals knew nothing about this and they were not very happy when they found out that their scenic river walk was going to be spoilt by an ugly encroaching development instead of the ageing but beautiful poplars. The chief planning officer who negotiated the original deal is buying one of the flats in the development! The next full council meeting is on December 16th. Until then, the Council has stated in writing that it won't evict but the chances of overturning the decision are extremely slim.

The good news is that the builders must get a felling license from the Council before they can even walk onto Canbury Gardens. Also, the Council may be obliged to provide details of the terms of the felling license to interested parties so campaigners might even get to know the exact dates. Meanwhile Kingston Borough will be pursuing a Summary Possession Order in the High Court on 8th December.

Needed: people, people, people and especially climbers. There is space to camp at the foot of the trees. To get there: Train from Waterloo to Kingston and walk north to Canbury Gardens (1/2 mile) or North London Link to Richmond and cycle south (4 miles) to Canbury Gardens. Contacts on site mobile 0378 498257. To get on telephone tree: Amanda/Jerry 0181 287 3118