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Blackwood update from protest camp

Col. Buendia | 11.02.2004 14:10

Just back from the camp at Blackwood. More people arriving every day, walkways up, work halted, local people have provided more food than even the dedicated activists can barbeque...!

Went up to Blackwood at the crack of dawn today, after the court orders were served yesterday. We were worried that the evictions would start to take place straight away, so four of us went up from Cardiff. Beautiful morning, sunshine filtering down through the trees as robins flit from branch to branch. The camp has been substantially increased since I was last up on Friday, there are lots more people camping there, experienced climbers, Newbury veterans, plus walkways have been put up in several areas, more Section 6 areas squatted, and barricades across the old railway line to slow down the movement of Costain's vehicles.

As of noon today there had been no sign of anyone except Costain's security people, so if evictions are going to go ahead, at least the cops will have to turn up first. A far as the court order goes, one of the law firms in London is looking at it with a view to challenging it straight away. Phone calls of support keep coming through to the camp from various wildlife groups, and apparently one is now preparing a court case against Costain for the destruction of the doormice habitat.

Once again the same appeal - bodies needed on site. Anyone free please head for Blackwood, this is turing into an expense mess for Costain, and who knows, maybe a European challenge for doormice might achieve what the expressed opinion of the local people couldn't - halt the war machine!

Col. Buendia
- e-mail: buendia at lycos.co.uk
- Homepage: http://us.geocities.com/bozavine/can/

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Bailiffs arrive at Blackwood

11.02.2004 15:24

Another phone call from the site abut 45mins ago, to say that bailiffs had turned up, ignored the S.6 notices and forced their way into the camp. Were then overheard to say that they would have the area cleared within 30mins. No sign of police - can anyone help with the suggestion that police need to be on hand to make it an legal eviction? References?

Further news to follow.

Col. Buendia
mail e-mail: buendia at lycos.co.uk


Not AS urgent

11.02.2004 20:03

Back from a day at camp, sorry for misleading info from the fone call... they were not biliffs but costain brass. farced there way on to site and had a good look around. commented that it would take 15 minutes to clear and then left (they didnt like being filmed too much) looks like eviction is imminent thursday morning maybe...
the majority of camp has been moved back 6 foot on to private land to prevent evictions and to enable us to keep stopping work.

NEWS FLASH:
Apparently work has been stopped on the road because a dormice habbitat was found (they found it last week n kept cutting, didnt bother them then) they need to apply for a licence which could take up to 6 weeks. it is unclear as of yet whether this will halt ALL work or onlythat in the area. tomorrow will tell.

Please come up and see us if only for a day. bodies are extremely usefull....

fuck civil lets get disobedient