Oxford LMS Building Evicted

Wednesday 9th of September saw the start of the eviction of the LMS building in Oxford by Oxford University. The eviction lasted 60 hours, 10 times longer than predicted, and is believed to have cost over half a million pounds.

Local activists had squatted the building to resist the universities plans to destroy it and 8 nearby trees in order to build a business school (funded by an arms dealer) and a new six lane road.

The last tunneller was removed at dusk on Friday 11th, ending the eviction which saw 17 arrests, confiscation and destruction of personal property by police, damage to the (listed) building by police, 3 extra trees illegally felled, one policeman injured (when he fell through a roof) and one protester get two broken fingers. Legal proceedings have begun concerning the illegal fellings, the damage and the injured protester.

One activist commented: 'This whole saga has rekindled a centuries old feud - Town Vs Gown. We have shown the university that Oxford is not their playground, it is our home, and we have warned developers everywhere of the dangers of putting their profits before local people and the planet'.

The campaign of which the eviction was only one part is continuing. Contact BREATHE, c/o 38a Walton Crescent, Oxford. 07970 343 486. nomoreroads@hotmail.com