Teigngrace Victory!

News of another victory for direct action greeted activists at the EF! summer gathering, as mining company Watts Blake Bearne (WBB) withdrew their application to quarry clay from the Teigngrace valley in Devon.

Six camps were set up around the proposed site last July to campaign against the relocation of the Rivers Teign and Bovey. This proved to be the spark for a vibrant and dynamic local campaign, with both protesters and the local community taking active roles. By October, after several actions and rallies, thousands of letters and a 200 mile walk to London, a public enquiry was granted The camps tatted down so as not to disturb the wildlife any more than necessary.

WBB were caught out a number of times during the enquiry. First, they were spotted going back to dig up the foundations of Twinyeo Farm, a site of archaeological importance mentioned in the Domesday Book which they had bulldozed a few years before. Then it was found that they had under-estimated the maximum flow rate in the river by 111%. This has serious consequences for the towns downstream, as it would make flooding much more likely. This proved to be the final straw, and they withdrew their application. However, they intend to resubmit modified plans, and in the longer term they have plans to quarry Southern Dartmoor.

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