Archived press release

Newbury Contractors move on camps

29 January 1996

Week four of the Third battle of Newbury, saw a change in tactics used by security guards. Today, they invaded Heartbreak Hotel Camp, at Great Penn Wood cutting down perimeter fences and notices giving protestors squatters rights [1] . Security guards surrounded the camp and started felling trees within the camp boundaries, in close proximity to other guards and members of the public.

Tony Juniper, Deputy Campaigns Director of Friends of the Earth said:

" I am seriously concerned at what has happened today. Security guards appear to be taking the law into their own hands, ignoring legal notices and invading camps where people are living. They are trashing camps and trees are being felled on top of people. Friends of the Earth has already made a formal request to Health and Safety Executive urging them to take action to stop this dangerous situation [2]. We are now taking legal advice to stop this thuggery and ensure the rights of peaceful protestors are upheld."

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] Protestors have been occupying land and trees and serking to claim protection from eviction as squatters by displaying section 6' and section 12' notices. Section 6 notices protects squatters from direct eviction by making it an offence for anybody, without lawful authority, to use or threaten violence in order to enter premises where:* there is someone present on these premises at the time who is opposed to the entry; and* the person using or threatening the violence knows that this is the case - hence the display of a section 6 notice.

[2] Friends of the Earth wrote to Nick Marsh, Principle Construction Inspector, at the Health and Safety Executive on 23rd January 1996, over breaches of Health and Safety guidelines on tree-felling and chainsaw use.

Page FRIENDS OF THE EARTH FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 29th 1996

HEART BREAK AT HEARTBREAK HOTEL - NEWBURY CONTRACTORS MOVE ON CAMPS

Week four of the Third battle of Newbury, saw a change in tactics used by security guards. Today, they invaded Heartbreak Hotel Camp, at Great Penn Wood cutting down perimeter fences and notices giving protestors squatters rights [1] . Security guards surrounded the camp and started felling trees within the camp boundaries, in close proximity to other guards and members of the public.

Tony Juniper, Deputy Campaigns Director of Friends of the Earth said:

" I am seriously concerned at what has happened today. Security guards appear to be taking the law into their own hands, ignoring legal notices and invading camps where people are living. They are trashing camps and trees are being felled on top of people. Friends of the Earth has already made a formal request to Health and Safety Executive urging them to take action to stop this dangerous situation [2]. We are now taking legal advice to stop this thuggery and ensure the rights of peaceful protestors are upheld."

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] Protestors have been occupying land and trees and serking to claim protection from eviction as squatters by displaying section 6' and section 12' notices. Section 6 notices protects squatters from direct eviction by making it an offence for anybody, without lawful authority, to use or threaten violence in order to enter premises where:* there is someone present on these premises at the time who is opposed to the entry; and* the person using or threatening the violence knows that this is the case - hence the display of a section 6 notice.

[2] Friends of the Earth wrote to Nick Marsh, Principle Construction Inspector, at the Health and Safety Executive on 23rd January 1996, over breaches of Health and Safety guidelines on tree-felling and chainsaw use.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust