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Eviction Alert - Two Mile Coppice, Weymouth

chris b | 03.08.2004 15:56 | Ecology

*****STOP PRESS THURS 05/08/04 POSSESSION GIVEN TO COUNCIL MORE BODIES NEEDED URGENTLY*****
We only just heard that there has been a camp set up, adjacent to the old teddy bear woods & pink castle site, Weymouth, Dorset. The eviction hearing is on Thursday.

... deeper in the woods
... deeper in the woods


The camp is trying to stop yet another attempt by the local council to destroy a ecologially sensitive site which is also a place to relax for the locals from the Littlemoor Housing estate.

Two mile coppice is rich in a variety of trees which includes Pedunculate Oak Quercus, Ash, Field Maple, Hawthorn, Hazel, Gelder Rose, and Holly. Areas under threat if this road were to be built are extensive and include the Dorset Downs, Heaths and Coast AONB and Lorton Valley SSSI (which includes ancient woodland). The claims made about the economic regeneration benefits of the road have been exaggerated and no alternatives to a road have been properly considered by Dorset County Council.

In June 1996 Weymouth Relief Road protesters set up Teddy Bear Camp in opposition to the 'brown route' of Weymouth 'relief' road. A decade later on July 12th, 2004 protesters set up camp at Two Mile Coppice in opposition to the now approved 'orange route'. Protesters at Two Mile coppice urgently need your help, please get down there if you can.

Onsite mobile: 07800760257
Email:  weymouth@roadalert.org.uk

Directions: Two Mile Coppice is just off a roundabout where Dorchester road meets Weymouth way A354 (Weymouth), go under neath railway bridge and two mile coppice is directly facing left . Nearest railway station is Weymouth which is a brisk 15 minute walk south from Two Mile Coppice.

chris b
- Homepage: http://www.roadalert.org.uk/

Comments

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Some recent pictures of the woods and route

03.08.2004 22:42

Click on link to see pictures taken just last weekend

kriptick
- Homepage: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/08/295787.html


Some more background

06.08.2004 08:47

In the Woodland Trust's directory of *their* forests, they suggest it is *well worth a visit* maybe worth agreeing with them :-)  http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/woods/directory/referrermain.asp?r=sustrans&m=4811

A previous attempt to stop the road running around the SSSI was if there were bats breeding.
 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3117460.stm
"The trust, which owns the coppice, fears the road could do irreparable damage to what is a Site of Special Scientific Interest."

Site of Special Scientific Interest notification, has some detailed info about the forest
pdf on english-natures site  http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1003117.pdf
or google's cached html copy
 http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:umodmpcy0NYJ:www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1003117.pdf+%22Two+Mile+Coppice%22&hl=en
and English Nature's negotiations (damage minimisation attempts?)
 http://www.english-nature.org.uk/about/teams/NewsDetails.asp?Id=17&NewsId=297
though they seem a bit less bothered about this route
 http://www.english-nature.org.uk/about/teams/NewsDetails.asp?Id=17&NewsId=174

Dorset Council's site on the route, with their Orange and Brown options  http://www.dorsetcc.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=16622

ekes


What's the point of this camp

09.08.2004 13:18

The Woodland Trust oppose the road.
They're collecting ecological data to back up their case - which requires an undisturbed environment.
No felling or other work on any road is expected for two years.
What's the point of this camp?
And why don't those involved want to talk with other anti-road activists?

legolas