Treetop protesters’ lives endangered by Sussex Council
Anon East Sussex | 28.01.2013 21:26 | Ecology | Free Spaces | Policing
Press Information Note
Combe Haven Defenders [1]
28 January 2013
TREETOP PROTESTERS’ LIVES ENDANGERED BY SUSSEX COUNCIL
Chrissie Hynde’s daughter ( Natalie Hynde - Ed) denied painkillers whilst 40 feet up tree in “strong winds”.
Combe Haven Defenders [1]
28 January 2013
TREETOP PROTESTERS’ LIVES ENDANGERED BY SUSSEX COUNCIL
Chrissie Hynde’s daughter ( Natalie Hynde - Ed) denied painkillers whilst 40 feet up tree in “strong winds”.
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
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
Anon East Sussex
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http://combehavendefenders.wordpress.com/2013/01/28/treetop-protesters-lives-endangered-by-sussex-council/
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DECOY POLLOI! (from Schnews 28th Jan 2013)
28.01.2013 21:52
The forceable eviction of activists resisting the building of the Bexhill bypass at Camp Decoy began just before nine this morning (28th Jan).
Around forty folk had braved the cold to wait overnight for the eviction, split roughly half and half between those on the ground and in the trees. Bailiffs broke through the harris fencing at first then dropped bridges across the stream in front of the camp.
Approximately seventy bailiffs and security crossed the bridges, together with around twenty cops. They offered a get-out clause to those prepared to leave immediatley and then started to tackle those locked on at ground level. It was midday before the first protestor was unlocked and marched off. In fact it took them the rest of the day to clear the ground of the five lock ons and tunnels. It wasn't until 4.30 and twilight that the contractors were able to begin brush-cutting around the base of the trees.
There were two arrests – one of somebody up a tripod and another for repeatedly re-entering the cordoned off zone.
At the time of writing around twenty people are still occupying the tree-houses and walkways. There was an eviction climbing team on site all day but they didn't even get their ropes out.
SchNEWS has been informed that the fence around the site has various weak points and that security guards “are fat and unfit”. Combe Haven Defenders reckon that anyone determined enough could easily make it to the trees.
SchNEWS spoke to Pablo, one of the last few desperadoes still hanging tough among the branches “We're expecting them to come up into the trees tomorrow. We're going to hang on as long as possible. The more people here the better - the more chaos and confusion the better”
There are free lifts going tomorrow from Brighton, if anyone is interested please call 07766 335 506. Don't forget to dress up in warm waterproof clothes and bring provisions.
For more see Combe Haven Defenders
Anon East Sussex
Homepage:
http://www.schnews.org.uk/stories/DECOY-POLLOI!/
Councillor Peter Jones CBE, Combe Haven Destruction Facilitator!
28.01.2013 21:53
Anon East Sussex