Treetop protesters’ lives endangered by Sussex Council

January 28, 2013 by combehavendefenders



Press Information Note
Combe Haven Defenders [1]
28 January 2013

TREETOP PROTESTERS’ LIVES ENDANGERED BY SUSSEX COUNCIL
Chrissie Hynde’s daughter denied painkillers whilst 40 feet up tree in “strong winds”

28 January, 8.15pm: Campaigners against the Bexhill-Hastings Link Road (BHLR) have registered strong concern that the lives of a dozen activists – including the daughter of musician Chrissie Hynde [2], and tunneller Simon “Sitting Bull” Medhurst [3] – are being placed in danger tonight, as East Sussex County Council (ESCC) denies food, painkillers and respite from the strong winds to activists locked-on 40-feet up trees in Crowhurst.

Rother District Police Commander Chief Inspector Katy Woolford contacted ESCC earlier this evening about the denial of humanitarian aid to the protesters, but Council have appear to be determined to try and starve and freeze the campaigners out of the trees. ESCC’s out of hours number for emergency media enquiries is 07974 427569 [4]. The activists have been told that the trees they are occupying will be felled if they come down.

The eviction of the third [5] anti-road camp along the route of the proposed Bexhill-Hastings Link Road (BHLR) began this morning, Monday 28 January. Two people were arrested over the course of day. The peaceful protests against the Road– which have been running continuously since 14 December, with 21 arrests – have seized national attention over the past month [6].

Earlier this month the authorities agreed a night-time truce with Newbury veteran Mr Medhurst (then occupying a tunnel at another site) when temperatures plunged below freezing, and he was permitted to exit his tunnel overnight to warm-up and return the next morning [7].

NOTES
[1] www.combehavendefenders.org.uk
[2] See “Dedicated follower of passion: Daughter of Pretenders star Chrissie Hynde and The Kinks’ Ray Davies joins new generation of ‘swampies’ in treetop by-pass protest”, Daily Mail, 21 January 2013,  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2265966/Daughter-Pretenders-star-Chrissie-Hynde-The-Kinks-Ray-Davies-joins-new-generation-swampies-treetop-pass-protest.html
[3]  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/9806344/Battle-of-Hastings-bailiffs-move-in-to-move-middle-class-protesters.html
[4]  http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/yourcouncil/pressoffice/pressteam/default.htm
[5] The first camp was established on 21 December. Two other camps along the route, ‘Three Oaks’ and ‘Adams Farm’, have already been evicted, on 14 Jan and 16-17 Jan respectively, resulting in seven arrests that will all go to court later this week.For maps and directions see  http://combehavendefenders.wordpress.com/camp-groundrules-directions/
[6] See  http://combehavendefenders.wordpress.com/recent-media-coverage/
[7]  http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jan/17/eco-activist-protest-tunnel-temperatures