Category: Nuclear

"This film gives an account of the first few days of the occupation of Langborough Farm on the site of one of the proposed 'new wave' of Nuclear Reactors, at Hinkley point in Somerset. The activists took occupancy in the early hours of Sunday the 12th of February and are settling in to their new home and community."

Check out this great vid of the opening days of the occupation

Thursday, 16 February 2012, South West Against Nuclear:

Activists who have occupied a farm to oppose ground clearance for a new nuclear site in West Somerset today entered the fifth day of their stand-off with the French energy company EDF.

The protesters entered Langborough Farm at Hinkley Point on Saturday night and established a camp around derelict buildings which are believed to house hibernating bats. They want the “Preliminary Works”, which will clear and level several hundred acres of Somerset coastal land to be halted for 12 months until EDF know if they actually have permission to build their proposed reactors.

“Currently EDF have no permission to build here, but astonishingly they DO have permission to destroy this precious part of our common natural heritage” said farm occupant Theo Simon. “If this land and these habitats are lost and then they don’t get planning permission, EDF will have committed an act of unprecedented ecological vandalism. If on the other hand, as many locals now suspect, the planning permission is already a “done deal” then that means the current IPC public consultation is an expensive sham.”

Mr Simon (53) said that their camp has now been strengthened with food and water and other supplies brought in by local well-wishers. Yesterday campers were visited by West Somerset District Councillor Jon Freeman, who told them how he thought the planning process had been corrupted by pressure from central government and the edf. today they were advised by a retired Hinkley B engineer who explained his technical reservations about flaws in the EDF’s reactor and waste storage plans.

Another occupier, Nikki Clark, said, “Already our support is growing here, people who had begun to give up hope, have been empowered by our occupation, and they are free to walk up the footpaths to visit us. There is a lot of resentment in this are at the way this project has been steam-rollered through, but we’re here to draw a line on the ground. The wanton destruction of this beautiful land must be halted until there has been a genuine democratic process the beginning of which must be Parliament deeming the National Statements as fraudulent in the light if the corruption of governance report.”

The new residents are all looking forward to the stop new nuclear surround & blockade of Hinkley Point on March 10th & 11th to mark the first anniversary of the beginning of the Fukushima catastrophe. Around 400 people descended on the station last October to disrupt EDFs operations & voice their dissent at the so-called Nuclear Renaissance.

ENDS

Site Contact: 07933920425

OR: 07530947554

Notes:

Details of the Stop New Nuclear surround & blockade available here:  http://stopnewnuclear.org.uk

South West Against Nuclear:
http://southwestagainstnuclear.wordpress.com

Stop Nuclear Power Network:
http://stopnuclearpoweruk.net

Boycott EDF Energy:
 http://boycottedf.org.uk

Twitter: @StopNukePower @NoNewNuclear @StopNewNuclear @BoycottEDF #OccupyHinkley

'Join the Hinkley Barnstomers' flyer available for download here:  https://we.riseup.net/assets/83705/barnstormer.pdf

13th February 2012

http://stopnuclearpoweruk.net/content/nuclear-reactor-site-occupied

Directions/practical info:

In the early hours of Sunday morning a group of us moved into and occupied the premises of Langborough Farm near Hinkley Point nuclear power station. The old farmhouse premises, on a site that EDF has earmarked for it's proposed new nuclear reactor, is now a legal squat. To help them settle into their new home without any hassle the occupiers would welcome friendly visitors today and in the days ahead.

To find your way by Public Footpath to Langborough Farm, see map below, or go to half-way through the youtube film “West Country Walks” at
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWp_ut-Uya4

Friends of mine went to visit the newly squatted site next to Hinkley Point power station in Somerset this weekend. Langborough Farm (ST 201 456) is in the middle of the area on which EDF energy propose to build a new nuclear power station. They said that although work to clear the site is likely to begin in the coming weeks, it is crossed by public footpaths and bridal ways that are still open. They said that although they saw lots of G4S security, getting access to the site was easy. The security were very interested in them and took lots of photos but didn't stop them so long as they stuck to the footpaths.

They parked in the lay-by on the main approach road to the power station (Point 1 on the map) and then walked along the public footpath which starts at a stile immediately to the left of the main gates to the power station (Point 2). The footpath follows the southern perimeter fence of Hinkley B power station and then follows a hedge line west to Langborough Farm. They said it took about 15 – 20 minutes to get there. Access is very muddy and there are a couple of gates and stiles.

Remember that access to the farm is by Public Right Of Way, and if anyone tries to obstruct you they will be committing an offence under section 137 of the Highways Act 1980, punishable by a fine of up to £1000.There are many paths across the site, but your best bet may be Wick Drove Lane, where there is a lay-by for parking. Walk down to the Power Station entrance then turn left up the public footpath.

One of the occupiers said “We really want you to come and visit and  spread the word. We are fighting against a corrupt planning decision, made at the highest levels, which favours the nuclear corporations over the democratic process, and we will feel much safer here if we have visible support.”

(It's cold out there so please take warm food, water, any spare tents, blankets or bedding you may have and anything useful you can think of when you go!)

If you've got time come and stay!

8th Feb –

Protesters occupying trees at Hinkley Point in Somerset were evicted today by police and a 5-man climbing team hired by the French company EDF.   The mature oak woodland is due to be cleared this month so that preliminary work can begin on building 2 new nuclear reactors and a radioactive waste dump at the site.

The eviction came around 11am, after the occupiers had spent a sleepless night in sub-zero temperatures. One of the occupiers, Michael, said “Security guards and dog-handlers  kept us awake all night with taunts and intimidation from barking dogs.” 

 However, the occupiers had been reinforced by supplies  delivered overnight by well-wishers from the local area. Cannington resident, Roy Pumfrey, visited the site three times over the last couple of days, trying to deliver supplies to the protesters. On his final visit to the site this morning, Mr. Pumfrey said ” I have concerns about Group 4 Security’s interpretation of the law and ordinary people’s civil right’s. Their guard’s told me that I was trespassing when I was in fact using public rights of way . “

In the morning a climbing  team, with 5 police officers in attendance, climbed into the trees and began removing belongs and climbing gear, before telling the remaining occupier, Taunton man, David Jesse  that he was trespassing and would be forcibly removed if he did not come down.  After leaving the tree peacefully, Jesse was searched and then released by police, who warned him that he could have been charged with Aggravated Trespass, as his presence in the trees was preventing the chainsaw crew from going about their lawful work.

Speaking for the South West Against Nuclear network, Theo Simon of Shepton Mallet said,  “It appears that EDF have acted ruthlessly and probably illegally,   to end a legitimate peaceful protest.  Clearly, if  the current work is only to clear dead elms as EDF claim, then the protesters in the oak trees were not in any way preventing this work.  In the light of this company’s record however, we do not expect them to play clean.  This is a company who last November had 2 employees jailed and were fined 500,000 euros (£428,000) in France for spying on anti-nuclear campaigners.  Astonishingly,  this is a company who have also been given the green light to destroy a beautiful part of our Somerset heritage, before they have even won planning permission for their proposed Nuclear project”.

http://southwestagainstnuclear.wordpress.com/