Birmingham Friends of the Earth Action Briefing Dec 98/Jan 99

Bailiffs move in on BNNR

This high profile campaign continues to grab the headlines.

The camps have been on alert since September 10th when they failed in the High Court to prevent the Highways Agency evicting them. This came to a media high at 10.45 am. on October 22nd when a 48 hour notice issued by the Sheriff was complete. However nothing happened except a huge invasion by the media and loads of people delivering essential food and clothing.

On November 24th the bailiffs and security forces, accompanied by the expectant media hordes, finally moved in to evict the protesters. Or so we thought, but it was only to set up their own base at the camp. At great expense the ground has been covered with corrugated iron sheets to aid vehicle access, portacabins and portaloos have sprung up and the whole compound has been surrounded by a security fence from within which the bored security guards wait for the something to happen. Indeed it has already been too much for some of them, one guard having recently defected to the protesters now finds himself playing the waiting game down a tunnel instead, whilst a further score of guards unable to stick the job anymore have simply walked out.

As I write (December 6th) still no move has been made to evict the protesters, who have retreated to their tunnels with enough food and water to last a month. A 24 hour watch is in place so there will be no surprises when the Sheriff and his men finally move in. Spirits are still high, helped by a recent poll in the Evening Mail which showed that 51% of it's readers were on the side of the protesters.

Up to this point there have been a number of meetings between the police, the protesters and local people, a number of whom were transported to Nottingham one Friday evening to be the stars on Central Weekend Live. I think it is fair to say that they carried the day with Tom Smith (Director MEL) agreeing to swap houses with Lilly Jones of the Alliance!!! The evening was certainly an opportunity to have a go at the protesters but those that did so were so outrageous in their comments that the audience quickly got behind the campaign and placed the supporters of the scheme on the defensive.

On October 20th the Hon. Justice Latham gave his judgement in the quashing order case brought forward by the members of the Alliance against the BNRR. In ruling against the Alliance he did however open the door for an appeal and also said that the Secretary of State had made a rod for his own back by not allowing the objectors or inspector to see the concession agreement during the Public Inquiry. This was greeted with great concern by the Alliance in that there is a case to appeal BUT that this could cost a lot of money. There were numerous meetings of the Alliance and the applicants to discuss their position before, on 17th November, agreeing to appeal. This will also be supported by a campaign to get supporters of the campaign to pledge money with respect to any costs which are laid against the applicants. There is a copy of the pledge form with this newsletter. Please do return the pledge form, for as little or as much as you can spare, to Hazel Barnes, to enable this legal challenge to gain the strength of support of environmentalists across the West Midlands.

The letters pages of the Birmingham Post and Evening Mail have been full of letters about the BNRR so be sure to add your contribution.

The camps will still be more than happy for a visit, especially as Christmas approaches and the cold sets in. Bring along any food that you can spare. A full list of the camp's wishes are on display at the site or can be obtained from Birmingham Friends of the Earth.

Brett Rehling