Alexandra Park: Tree felling resumes at protest site, 8th Feb

Alexandra Park: Tree felling resumes at protest site
Tree felling in Alexandra Park, Whalley Range Manchester City Council said it would not be deflected from its plans

Alexandra Park: Tree felling resumes at protest site
Tree felling in Alexandra Park, Whalley Range Manchester City Council said it would not be deflected from its plans

Tree felling has resumed at a Manchester park where activists climbed trees to prevent the clearance.

The felling was prevented last week when up to 70 people got into Alexandra Park, Whalley Range, on Thursday.

The protesters set up a camp and a number of them scaled trees in the park.

A Manchester City Council spokesman said it would not be deflected from its plans and legal action may be taken against the tree climbers.

Protestor Ian Brewer confirmed some demonstrators were still up trees but added: "There are not enough people at the camp, it is very disappointing.

"We've had good support with our petition but we need more people at the camp."

The council intends to fell 280 trees as part of a £5.5m project to return the park to the way it is supposed to have looked in Victorian times.
Raised flowerbeds

The authority said only 10% of the park's trees were being felled and local people have said they do not feel safe in the park.

But protesters claim the the actual number of trees to be cut down is more than 400.

The trees are being removed and replaced by raised flowerbeds as part of the regeneration of the park.

The plans also include creating new tennis courts and football facilities and improvements to the lake.

More than 2,000 people have signed an online petition opposing the felling of trees in the project, which received £2.2m from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Eamonn O'Rourke, head of communities and culture for Manchester City Council, said: "The actions of a small, noisy band of protesters have been holding up much-needed improvements to the park which have widespread public support and indeed all the evidence from our ongoing conversations with local people suggest that the majority are behind the plans."
Council plans for park The council said people did not feel safe in the park

Tim Cooke, from Hulme, who is also protesting against the tree felling, said: "It's not improving the park – it is destroying the park by decimating a third of the trees.

"I would understand it if they were diseased but they are cutting down perfectly healthy trees."

Greater Manchester Police confirmed a woman was arrested on Friday on suspicion of aggravated trespass.

She was not charged but given a police caution.

Protest camp evicted & restarted

7th Feb 2013: Moving Camp and Climbing Trees

We are in the process of moving the camp to another location in the park.

There is a protester up in the trees which have arial walk ways to them.

7th Feb 2013: Moving Camp and Climbing Trees

We are in the process of moving the camp to another location in the park.

There is a protester up in the trees which have arial walk ways to them.

If you are willing and able to actively protect other trees by various means, we do have food supplies and a limited amount climbing gear for use. 

The police have surrounded another area of trees which are about to be felled.

6/2/13, noon: URGENT: An eviction notice has been served to us on the camp which will be enforced in 45 minutes at 12.00 We need people to come down to the camp as soon as possible!
To show how many people in our community object to what MCC are doing…
To make the eviction difficult which will give us more time….
To help move things out of camp so residents won’t loose all of there grear they have kindly donated, as the police can hold equipment ‘as evidence’.

http://savealexandraparkstrees.wordpress.com

Stop the Chop – Alexandra Park trees, Manchester

JOIN THE COMMUNITY PROTEST
SATURDAY 2nd FEB @ 1pm

JOIN THE COMMUNITY PROTEST
SATURDAY 2nd FEB @ 1pm
Protest Camp Open Now
We need YOU to help!

Peaceful Protest @ Alexandra Park to stop the felling of 400 trees against strong public opposition. As of Thurs 31st Jan, 2382 people have signed a petition to oppose the scale of tree felling and wildlife habitat destruction in the park, yet the council are ignoring public opinion. The meeting on 28/01 to discuss these plans further was cancelled hours before taking place & the works have steamrolled ahead felling 53 trees so far. On 31/01, around 80 local people of all ages and backgrounds gathered in peaceful protest, with BBC Northwest covering the story. For now, they have succeeded in bringing tree felling works to a halt. But the destruction starts again TODAY ! We need your help to save the remaining 347 trees & wildlife habitat areas!

Tell your family and friends, your neighbours and your community. Bring banners, bring goodwill – together we can make our voices heard! PEOPLE OF MANCHESTER UNITE!

Meet near the park gates on Alexandra Rd South and Claremont Rd. 

PLEASE PROMOTE THIS PROTEST

www.savealexandraparkstrees.wordpress.com
Email: savealexandraparkstrees@hotmail.com
Twitter: @SaveAPTrees
Facebook.com/Save Alexandra Parks Trees
Action Group Tel: 07757 639 668

Decoy Pond camp evicted but the campaign continues! (31 Jan)

Decoy Pond camp – the third of three camps that had been erected on the path of the planned Bexhill-Hastings Link Road (BHLR) – was finally evicted yesterday (Wednesday 30 Jan).

Decoy Pond camp – the third of three camps that had been erected on the path of the planned Bexhill-Hastings Link Road (BHLR) – was finally evicted yesterday (Wednesday 30 Jan).

In the end it took scores of security, bailiffs and police three days to evict all of the climbers – not to mention tunnelers, people in tripods and folk locked-on on the ground! Denied food, water and medicine by East Sussex County Council, the activists in the trees also had to contend with torrential rain and gusts of wind of up to 54mph (Met Office figure for nearby Battle)! See below for photos and films from yesterday (30 Jan). In total, 9 people were arrested, and the CHD is now helping to assist those charged, as they go through the court process.

After 48 days of continuous protest (with 28 arrests) some of those involved will probably now be taking a short but much needed rest. Nonetheless, the Campaign continues, with four activists in Court this morning (Thursday 31 Jan), more news expected from the High Court on Friday, the “Grannies’ Dinghy” action in the Valley this Saturday (2 February), and an opportunity for opponents of the Road to get together to form groups and plan future activities, this Sunday (3 February: 4-6pm, The Roomz, 33-35 Western Road, St Leonards on Sea, TN37 6DJ).

Many more activities and projects are also in the pipeline, so please sign the Pledge / like us on Facebook / follow us on Twitter (@combe_haven) / send a donation (use the PayPal buttons on this site or send a cheque) and stay posted for more news on Phase 2. A luta continua!

Anti-Surveillance Activists Begin Game to Destroy CCTV Cameras in Germany

The watchful eye of the German surveillance state may need something of a patch soon as a radical group of activists have launched a campaign to destroy as many CCTV surveillance cameras as possible ahead of the 19 February European Police Congress in Berlin.

The watchful eye of the German surveillance state may need something of a patch soon as a radical group of activists have launched a campaign to destroy as many CCTV surveillance cameras as possible ahead of the 19 February European Police Congress in Berlin.

The anti-surveillance activists have invited their comrades to join them in a game in which the only rules seem to be to destroy any and all CCTV cameras your “brigade” of camera smashers finds, and to not get caught doing it. The winning team of the “CamOver” game will be rewarded with being “in the first line of the demonstration against the cops on 16 February,” and are reminded to “crouch down to avoid being hit by flying cams.

Cam Over

The game seems to be gathering players as you can see in the above video. The blog hosting the game, camover.blogsport.de, posted that two more cameras had been taken down on 14 January by the “command: Black Rabbit of Death.”

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As a youth in a ski mask marches down a Berlin U-Bahn train, dressed head-to-toe in black, commuters may feel their only protection is the ceiling-mounted CCTV camera nearby. But he is not interested in stealing wallets or iPhones – he is after the camera itself. This is Camover, a new game being played across Berlin, which sees participants trashing cameras in protest against the rise in close-circuit television across Germany.

The game is real-life Grand Theft Auto for those tired of being watched by the authorities in Berlin; points are awarded for the number of cameras destroyed and bonus scores are given for particularly imaginative modes of destruction. Axes, ropes and pitchforks are all encouraged.

The rules of Camover are simple: mobilise a crew and think of a name that starts with "command", "brigade" or "cell", followed by the moniker of a historical figure (Van der Lubbe, a Dutch bricklayer convicted of setting fire to the Reichstag in 1933, is one name being used). Then destroy as many CCTV cameras as you can. Concealing your identity, while not essential, is recommended. Finally, video your trail of destruction and post it on the game's website – although even keeping track of the homepage can be a challenge in itself, as it is continually being shut down.

The use of surveillance cameras has become a thorny political issue in Germany. Inadequate CCTV footage was highlighted in the investigation of a bomb scare in Bonn last December ("Germans consider Brit-style CCTV," shouted Der Spiegel). This, along with the brutal killing of a man in Berlin's busy Alexanderplatz square in October 2012 spurred the interior minister, Hans-Peter Friedrich, to call for "efficient video surveillance and video recording in public areas".

For those who oppose CCTV, petitions and letters only go so far in the German capital. A group of 40 protesters walked the streets of Berlin for 1984 Action Day (protests against CCTV cameras and other surveillance, named after the novel by George Orwell) in June and pressure group Control Berlin has screened short films documenting CCTV's rise. But Camover's direct-action approach revolves around a small but committed group who call themselves "workless people – we are shoplifters, graffiti sprayers, homeless and squatters". They claim to have snuffed out as many as 50 cameras since the game began a few weeks ago.

"We thought it would motivate inactive people out there if we made a video-invitation to this reality-game," the creator of Camover (who wanted to remain anonymous) told me. "Although we call it a game, we are quite serious about it: our aim is to destroy as many cameras as possible and to have an influence on video surveillance in our cities."

The winner of the game does not get a trophy or a year's supply of spray paint. The competition ends on 19 February, to coincide with the start of the European Police Congress. The prize, says Camover, is to be in the frontline of a protest that will take place three days earlier, on 16 February. The location has yet to be confirmed, but Camover advises anyone who turns up to "crouch to avoid the flying cameras".

 

Day 48 (30 Jan): Decoy Pond Camp eviction continues!

[Update, 10.43am: First arrest of the day reported as campaigner removed from tree.]

[Update, 10.43am: First arrest of the day reported as campaigner removed from tree.]

30 Jan: Day 48 of the current phase of Combe Haven protests has begun with activists still in the trees at Decoy Pond Camp (see here for maps and directions). The eviction continues! East Sussex County Council are still insisting that no food, water, blankets or medicines be allowed up to the people high-up in the trees, who faced gusts of wind of up to 54mph last night.

Meanwhile, local grandmothers are mobilising to bring inflatable dinghies to the flooded valley ths Saturday (2 February) for an aquatic demonstration of their support for the peaceful protests.

Five people were arrested yesterday, bringing the total number of arrests so far to 26. All have now been released: one was cautioned, and the remaining four have been charged.

As we noted at the time of the eviction of “Base Camp”: This is only the end of the beginning for the protests against the Bexhill Hastings Link Road (BHLR)!

If you can’t make it down to the Valley this week then please sign the Pledge / like us on Facebook / follow us on Twitter (@combe_haven) / send a donation (use the PayPal buttons on this site or send a cheque) and stay posted for news on Phase 2!

Two short films from yesterday’s eviction:

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

EVICTION OF HASTINGS ANTI-ROAD CAMP ENTERS THIRD DAY
Local grandmothers to show support with “Grannies’ Dinghy” action this Saturday (2 Feb)

30 January, 8.15am: At least four activists are still in the treetops of the third [2] anti-road camp along the route of the proposed Bexhill-Hastings Link Road (BHLR) this morning, as local grandmothers mobilise to bring inflatable dinghies to the flooded valley ths Saturday (2 February) for an aquatic demonstration of their support for the peaceful protests.

Campaigners are currently peacefully resisting the eviction of the Camp, which is located just west of Upper Wilting Farm in Crowhurst (TN38 8EG) [3]. East Sussex Council have denied food and water to the protesters – who have faced heavy rain and gusts of up to 54mph, fifty-feet up in the trees – since Monday morning [4].

Local grandmothers will be assembling with inflatable dinghies at 12.45pm this Saturday (2 February) at the Plough Inn in Crowhurst (TN33 9AW), from where they plan to mount an aquatic demonstration against the Road in the nearby flooded fields – fields through which the Road is supposed to pass [5]. An earlier action (“Grannies’ Tree”) was reproduced in both the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph.

The £100m Road project is one of over forty “zombie roads” that were declared dead years ago but have now been resuscitated as part of as part of Britain’s largest road-building programme in 25 years [6,7].

Seven people have been arrested since Monday, including Natalie Hynde, daughter of pop singer Chrissie Hynde [4]. The peaceful protests against the Road– which have now been running continuously for 48 days, with 26 arrests – have seized national attention over the past seven weeks [8].

Adrian Hopkins of the Combe Haven Defenders said: “Resistance has been growing to this awful scheme as each day passes and more people become inspired by the action so far taken to protect the beautiful Combe Haven valley. This is only the beginning of a sustained campaign of peaceful resistance to this environmentally disastrous white-elephant project.”

NOTES
[1] http://www.combehavendefenders.org.uk
[2] 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.
[3] For maps and directions see http://combehavendefenders.wordpress.com/camp-groundrules-directions/
[4] http://combehavendefenders.wordpress.com/2013/01/29/29-jan-escc-still-denying-food-blankets-to-activists-facing-44mph-gusts/
[5] http://combehavendefenders.wordpress.com/2013/01/26/sat-19-jan-grannies-photoshoot-2/
[6] See ‘Controversial ‘zombie roads’ scheme to be resuscitated’, Guardian, 10 October 2012, http://tinyurl.com/zombieroads
[7] http://bettertransport.org.uk/media/26-Oct-roads-report
[8] http://combehavendefenders.wordpress.com/recent-media-coverage/

Tar Sands Blockade Activists Forced to Settle Lawsuit But Will Continue to Fight

TransCanada Claimed $5 Million in Damages

On Friday, January 25th, a group of activists agreed to a se

TransCanada Claimed $5 Million in Damages

On Friday, January 25th, a group of activists agreed to a settlement in TransCanada’s lawsuit against Tar Sands Blockade, Rising Tide North Texas, Rising Tide North America, and nineteen individuals. The SLAPP suit (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) alleged that direct action against Keystone XL has cost TransCanada $5 million. This contradicts frequent public statements by TransCanada’s spokespeople that blockaders were not impeding construction in any meaningful way.

The eight Texans who came to court to defend themselves on Friday, some of whom had not been actively involved with Tar Sands Blockade since protests in August, were threatened with losing their homes and life’s savings if the lawsuit went forward. In order to protect the livelihoods and dependents of brave activists like Tammie Carson, who locked herself to a truck carrying Keystone XL pipe, the activists agreed to settle the lawsuit. The corporation will not seek the $5 million in financial damages, and the named defendants and organizations agreed to not trespass on Keystone XL property in Texas and Oklahoma or face additional charges.

Despite this legal setback, members of Tar Sands Blockade are as determined as ever to stop Keystone XL. The sustained direct action campaign will continue. Here’s a chronology of all the direct actions taken since August 2012.

Defendants made the following statements in response to the settlement:

Tammie Carson, a lifelong Texan, grandmother, and defendant from Arlington, TX, said:

“I took action for my grandkids’ future. I couldn’t sit idly by and watch as a multinational corporate bully abused eminent domain to build a dirty and dangerous tar sands pipeline right through Texans’ backyards. I had no choice but to settle or lose my home and everything I’ve worked for my entire life.”

 

Ramsey Sprague, Tar Sands Blockade spokesperson, and defendant from Fort Worth, TX, said:

“TransCanada is dead wrong if they think a civil lawsuit against a handful of Texans is going to stop a grassroots civil disobedience movement. This is nothing more than another example of TransCanada repressing dissent and bullying Texans who are defending their homes and futures from toxic tar sands.”

Lauren Regan, an attorney with the Civil Liberties Defense Center and one of the legal coordinators for the Tar Sands Blockade made the following statement:

“The SLAPP suit (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) filed against the people and organizations that are fighting against TransCanada’s unethical and environmentally destructive pipeline will never stop the people’s resistance to the XL Pipeline. TransCanada has repeatedly attempted to violate the law and bully the people of Texas: through corporate corruption and lies, they obtained “common carrier” status in Texas in order to steal private property from low income and hard working Texans; they have attempted to bring the full weight of the police state upon nonviolent activists in an attempt to crush their peaceful resistance–using mace, tasers, and physical brutality.

Despite physical harm, lengthy incarcerations, felony charges, and now civil lawsuits to restrict their right to protest, the people have not been deterred and have only been emboldened in the face of Transcanada’s attempt at repression and bullying. At each attempt by TransCanada to chill the citizens’ rights to protest the XL Pipeline, the people’s lawyers will stand up to defend them in the Court’s. For every protestor that is jailed or beaten, ten more arrive to take that person’s place. For every homeowner who has had their land stolen, and dangerous tar sands oil now threatens their health and environment, people from around the country will band together to protect the next threatened community through a variety of nonviolent tools. Resistance is Fertile. The survival of the planet in the face of global climate change deserves nothing less.”

Treesit in California Against CalTrans Bypass

A coalition of environmental groups staged a protest Monday morning along Highway 101 to protest the construction of the highway bypass around Willits.

Dozens of protestors from Earth First! joined with a newly formed Willits group called Save our Little Lake Valley in an effort to stop the planned tree cutting along the bypass footprint. In addition to picket signs, a local woman is now living on a platform nestled in top of one of the trees slated for removal. Picketers on the ground vowed to support her tree sitting protest for as long as it takes.

“CalTrans did not cut today, it was definitely a victory,” says organizer Sarah Grusky of Save our Little Lake Valley. “We plan to hold vigils as often as possible to keep a lookout.”

CalTrans has been working for the past few weeks, placing markers along the project right of way preparing for the contractor to begin work. The first significant work scheduled for the contractor is to cut the trees along the bypass route to prevent migratory birds from nesting in them. Tree cutting is expected to start within two to three weeks according to CalTrans spokesman Phil Frisbie.

CalTrans awarded the $108 million construction project to the partnership of DeSilva Gates Construction and Flatiron West Incorporated late last year with the expectation most of the heavy construction work would not start until 2013 after the seasonal rains subsided.

A lawsuit filed by The Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club, Willits Environmental Center and the Environmental Protection Information Center in May 2012 is seeking to delay the project until a more thorough examination of alternatives is conducted. The California Farm Bureau joined the lawsuit in August 2012. In November a federal judge denied the groups’ request for an injunction aimed at stopping construction until the lawsuit issues were settled. The trial date is scheduled for June 7.

While the courts settle the overall legality of CalTrans bypass design, some area activists are concerned about the damage being done in the meantime. Protestors brought informational signs and held them up to wave at travelers along the east side of Highway 101 south of Walker Road aimed at stopping any construction through peaceful protest.

“Caltrans has not considered the many other viable and sensible solutions to Willlits’ traffic problems developed by the people,” said Warbler, a Little Lake Valley farmer occupying the tree. “This Bypass will not improve local traffic and will create no permanent jobs, but it will permanently scar the Little Lake Valley. The Army Corp of Engineers is mandated to choose the least harmful alternative and the Bypass as planned isn’t it.”

Warbler is 24-years-old and has been living and working in the Willits valley for the past four years. This is her first tree sit. She volunteered for this role when planning for the protests began last year. She received tree climbing instructions from Cascadia Forest Defenders who also helped her get settled into the tree located at the south end of the new planned bypass not far from the current Highway 101. She has tarps to protect herself from rain and two sleeping bags to keep warm.

When asked how long she planned to stay in the tree she said, “that depends on CalTrans and local authorities.”

Updates from the trees: Hastings Link Road protests

 

 

An activist high in the tress at Decoy Pond camp. 28-01-2013. Photo: Adrian Arbib. www.arbib.org

 

 

An activist high in the tress at Decoy Pond camp. 28-01-2013. Photo: Adrian Arbib. www.arbib.org

Day 47 (Jan 29): Decoy Pond Camp eviction continues

[Update, 10am, Tues 29 Jan: A concerted move is reportedly being made on all of the treehouses, with lots of climbing specialists in the trees.]

The eviction of the third camp (Decoy Pond Camp – see here for maps and directions) along the route of the Bexhill-Hastings Link Road (BHLR) continues today (Tues 29 Jan – the 47th day of continuous protests in the valley) with activists still locked-on up trees, after spending a night in cold & wet conditions, facing gusts of up to 44mph (which are no joke when you’re 50 foot up a tree!).

Of the two people arrested yesterday: one has been cautioned and released, and the other is appearing in court this morning.

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Update, 6.30pm Mon 28 Jan: Climbing team & bailiffs have now left Decoy Pond camp for the day, leaving security guards & fencing behind. Two arrests have been reported. No-one yet removed from the trees. Hot food and more tarpaulins needed this evening (Mon 28 Jan). Eviction to continue tomorrow (Tues 29 Jan).

Can you come tonight to climb into site and help defend the trees tomorrow? Transport from Brighton, Lewes, Bexhill & Hastings. Details 07766 335506
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The eviction of the third camp (Decoy Pond Camp – see here for maps and directions) along the route of the Bexhill-Hastings Link Road (BHLR) began around 8.40am this morning. As at t 12.30pm there were some 70+ security personnnel on the site, as well as a considerable number of activists lock-on up the trees – including at least one at the top of a fifty-foot tree. The first arrest was reported around 12.20pm.

As we noted at the time of the eviction of “Base Camp”: This is only the end of the beginning for the protests against the Bexhill Hastings Link Road (BHLR)!
If you can’t make it down to the Valley this week then please sign the Pledge / like us on Facebook / follow us on Twitter (@combe_haven) / send a donation (use the PayPal buttons on this site or send a cheque) and stay posted for news on Phase 2!

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

EVICTION OF 3RD HASTINGS ANTI-ROAD CAMP BEGINS
Campaigners peacefully resisting £100m project in tunnels and trees

28 January, 9.45am: The eviction of the third [2] anti-road camp along the route of the proposed Bexhill-Hastings Link Road (BHLR) has begun this morning, Monday 28 January. Campaigners are  currently peacefully resisting the eviction of the Camp, which is located just west of Upper Wilting Farm in Crowhurst (TN38 8EG), locked-on up trees and down tunnels [3].

The peaceful protests against the Road– which have been running since 14 December, with 19 arrests – have seized national attention over the past month [4].

Yesterday, directors and senior campaigners from six major environmental and transport NGOs, including the RSPB, Greenpeace and the Campaign to Protect Rural England, visited the Camp, condemning the £100m Road project [5], one of over forty “zombie roads” that were declared dead years ago but have now been resuscitated as part of as part of Britain’s largest road-building programme in 25 years [6, 7].

Andy Atkins, Executive Director, Friends of the Earth, said “’This road shouldn’’t have been approved. It will lead to more pollution, damage the environment and do little to boost the local economy. Reviving discredited road schemes like this won’t solve our economic and transport problems, it will simply shift traffic elsewhere. Transport policy must change direction. We need cleaner cars and safe, efficient and affordable alternatives.’” [5]

Adrian Hopkins of the Combe Haven Defenders said: “Resistance has been growing to this awful scheme as each day passes and more people become inspired by the action so far taken to protect the beautiful Combe Haven valley. This is only the beginning of a sustained campaign of peaceful resistance to this environmentally disastrous white-elephant project.”

NOTES
[1] www.combehavendefenders.org.uk
[2] 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.
[3] For maps and directions see http://combehavendefenders.wordpress.com/camp-groundrules-directions/
[4] See http://combehavendefenders.wordpress.com/recent-media-coverage/
[5] See http://combehavendefenders.wordpress.com/2013/01/27/green-and-conservation-groups-ceos-visit-camp-condemn-link-road-plans/
[6] See ‘Controversial ‘zombie roads’ scheme to be resuscitated’, Guardian, 10 October 2012, http://tinyurl.com/zombieroads
[7] http://bettertransport.org.uk/media/26-Oct-roads-report

URGENT APPEAL – Defend Combe Haven, Resist the Eviction!

Camp Decoy, the last of three camps standing in the way of the proposed Bexhill – Hastings Link Road (BHLR), faces eviction next Monday (28 Jan). If you have ever thought you might come and take a stand against this horrifying scheme, now’s the time.

Camp Decoy, the last of three camps standing in the way of the proposed Bexhill – Hastings Link Road (BHLR), faces eviction next Monday (28 Jan). If you have ever thought you might come and take a stand against this horrifying scheme, now’s the time.

We need to do absolutely everything we can to peacefully resist this eviction. We have been truly humbled over the last few weeks by the level of support from the local community, and from well-wishers far and wide.  But now we need people, lots of people, to stand together and say: “Enough is enough, it’s time to protect the countryside”.

See here for maps and directions from the nearest train station (Crowhurst).

Combe Haven is the first of 190 sites at risk of new road development.  If we allow this one, the others will follow and precious habitats all over the country will be lost forever.

Here’s how you can help resist the eviction of Camp Decoy:

1. Share this far and wide.  Facebook, Twitter, Email.  Phone your friends.  Phone your local radio station!  Tell everyone at work, at school, at college, and down the pub.

2.Donate! Use the donate button on the Combe Haven Defenders web-site, or send them a cheque. Every little helps: just £6 buys enough rope to secure a platform; £12 buys a lock to secure someone to it.

3.Most importantly – Come to Combe Haven and help to peacefully defend Camp Decoy!

CATCH THE COMBE HAVEN BUS!

Decoy Wood is the last remaining piece of woodland in the way of the BHLR.  Wait a week or two and it may be gone. If live in England, Wales or Scotland and you can get 20 people from your community to come, we will provide you with your very own Combe Haven Bus, for free!

These buses will bring people to Camp Decoy on Saturday, and on Sunday we hope to provide training in tree-climbing, locking-on, and a legal briefing.

We need everyone, whether it’s for peaceful resistance, legal observation or general support.  Whether you are willing to risk arrest or not – there’s a job for you!

The bus will return to your community after a few days of action, depending on the situation on the ground.

For more information about the Combe Haven Bus, please phone or text 07766 335506