Category: South West England

"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/

Update 8th Feb: Overnight on February 6th, anti nuclear activists occupied trees on EDF's proposed new nuclear site west of Hinkley Point in Somerset.  This was in response to intial ground-clearance work being carried out by contractors the day before.

Although EDF have subsequently said that the work being done was only the clearing of dead elms, this is undoubtedly the first stage in preparing for major clearance, since EDF have now been given the go-ahead to begin reducing this beautiful piece of Somerset coastline to a lunar landscape.  They  are being permitted to do this even though it will be 12 months before they will know if they have planning permission for the 2 new nuclear reactors and a radioactive waste dump.  They obviously think this is a done deal!

In response to media interest today, including BBC TV Points West, Somerset Sound and Radio 4, and the Western Daily Press, EDF have also claimed that this stand of oak is not scheduled to be felled as part of the so-called “Preliminary Works”.  However, WSDC Planning Officer Andrew Goodchild has confirmed that this is untrue, and ALL vegetation within the site will have to be cleared in the next 4 to 6 weeks under the aptly named “Phase Zero”.   The nesting season won't be a big problem though, as they have a special license from “Natural England” to destroy the feathered songsters homes.  It seems they have a special license for just about anything!

Money talks, but actions talk louder.  The gallant folk who took command of the situation have acted pre-emptively and spontaneously and are currently few in number.  They are in a net off the ground and “just about” warm enough.  They need ground support – people to just visit them with treats, flasks, and warm words – which will also help defend them by keeping everything in the public eye.  A video camera would be extremely helpful, and maybe more phones.  RIGHT NOW THEY NEED A DELIVERY OF WARM SOCKS.

~~~~~~

7/2/12

Protestors take to the trees at Hinkley Point in a bid to save ancient oaks from being trashed by EDF before government decision on new nuclear is re-examined.

Early this morning, concerned locals occupied threatened, ancient trees at the proposed site for a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point, near Bridgwater in Somerset.

Michael Hunt, one of the tree occupiers said of their action :
“ We're here to stop work on this criminal development and to protect the ancient trees that are surrounded by a special conservation area but mysteriously excluded from it “

The protest was precipitated by last week's shocking revelation in a report by Unlock Democracy and the Association for Conservation of Energy entitled “ A Corruption of Governance?”

The report reveals in detail how MPs and Parliament based their national energy policy, specifically their policy to build new nuclear power on falsified information.

The report outlines that, on the basis of the Government’s own evidence, we do not need new nuclear to ‘keep the lights on’ or reduce CO2 emissions. It goes on to show that, on the basis of the Government’s own evidence, it is not the best way to cut carbon. In everyday terms, the building of new nuclear power stations to provide electricity is likely to mean higher fuel bills.

The report concludes that this corruption of governance can only be rectified if Parliament re-opens this debate, and MPs vote on this issue having seen the correct information.

EDF's plans to disrupt lives and livelihoods by digging up the 400 acres landscape and beautiful coastline in the coming weeks has already begun with the trees, says local campaigner Sarah Stone “We managed to get an emergency tree preservation order last year because the trees were threatened by this development, but WSDC refused to make it a full order after six months because they claimed they'd given permission to EDF to trash the site even though to date this decisions is still not published. This whole application has been characterised by lies, deceit, and corporate bullying it's made a complete joke out of the British planning system and if they won't protect the trees until there is a proper decision about nuclear new build then we will”
*************************************ENDS**********************************************************
Notes to Editor
1) Corruption of Governance report was published last week and presented to minsiters at Parliament. It can be found here www.ukace.org
2) The trees were subject to an emergency tree preservation order last March which was dropped by WSDC in October last year.
For interviews contact Theo on 01749860767 or 07805666239

south west against nuclear
swanactive@gmail.com
www.southwestagainstnuclear.wordpress.com