Eviction takes place at Blackwood tree camp

by: Jenny Noyce

February blockade of site.
PHOTO: Bristol IMC ,

South Wales: The Blackwood tree camp set up to stop a road to a bomb factory in South Wales is currently being illegally evicted. At 5:30 in the morning police and Sheriff’s men entered the camp and started clearing protestors.

Local people have started the legal process to force the police and under-sheriff to recognise that the eviction is in contempt of court because a case is awaiting hearing in the High Court in Cardiff. Protesters are also suing the under-sheriff and Costain for conspiracy to cause criminal damage, assault, and burglary.

Local people set up the tree camp, which has been there for seven weeks with over 50 people living in tree houses and down tunnels. Campaigners have been fighting the two mile “feeder road” which passes through five acres of ancient semi-natural woodland for eleven years. Despite 4500 written objections from locals, Caerphilly County Borough Council pushed ahead with the private finance initiative scheme with multinational building contractors, Constain.

Costain is currently being investigated by the South Wales Constabularly due to allegations that they are destroying the habitats of bats and dormice, which are both protected species under European Legislations. The European Commission is also reviewing the road due to environmental concern.

Currently, reports indicate that two out of three camps have been overtaken, but it is still possible to get through cordons.

Source: UK IMC