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At 2am on the 2nd of June 1997, a group of environmental campaigners set up camp consisting of barricades, two lock-ons, a tunnel and a tripod on the former site of the Fairmile anti-roads camp in East Devon, UK. The protesters had been digging tunnels on the site for two weeks under the noses of the CONNECT consortium, who are building the road.
The eviction was carried out peacefully with no incidence of violence. The last campaigners left the site at 4pm the same day.
The aim of the protest was to draw the attention of Britain's new Labour government to the transport issue, and to state that although the trees have gone, we still oppose the DBFO (Design Build Finance Operate) road-building scheme and the short-sightedness of current transport policy.
We ask the Labour government for a full review of PFI (Private Finance Initiative).
At 2:15 am this morning activists from A30 Action! re-occupied the Fairmile camp on the route of the proposed A30. This follows two weeks of covert tunnelling carried out under the noses of the security authorities. There is now an encampment and defences around the entrance to this new labrinth.
This re-occupation of the site, which was the scene of determined and sensational resistance in in the previous network of tunnels and tree-houses in January this year, is being carried out by A30 Action! because they wish to highlight New Labour's pre-election commitment to reviewing the Private Finance Initiative (PFI). They have failed to do this and whilst they don't a road scheme, the financing of which has never been reviewed, is ploughing ahead. A30 Action! maintain that the only outcome of this will be more traffic on Devon's roads and fat profits for the scheme's financers, The Bank of America, at the expense of the British tax-payer.
Derrick Locke, one of the activists occupying the site, said "With the Conservatives removed from office, are we going to see any real move by Blairite Labour to give Britain a socially just or sustainable future? This road is being built under the Design Build Finance Operate scheme which was brought in by the Tories to give them roads on Hire Purchase. They get a free road now and the tax-payer pays back millions more in 30 years time based on the number of cars the contractors have enticed onto the road. Is Blair prepared to stop this mortgaging of our future?"
The occupiers have stated that they intend to stay there until a full public review is carried out into the Design Build Finance Operate scheme and that all work on the road is stopped until the conclusion of such a review. They claim that to merely ask for the public to be allowed to make their own decision on the road's finance is a small request to make.
"....Swampy emerged with a huge smile
on his face, he just rang his mother to say he was fit and well, he had
a cup of coffee......"
- BBC News 30 January 1997
"... they should put down CS gas, their personal safety is of very
little value to me." .
- Dr. Adrian Rogers, Exeter prospective Tory parliamentary
candidate, Express and Echo, 30 January 1997
Family values? Dr Rogers?
Swampy is Released From Police Custody Following Court Appearance.
Emma Giffard was yesterday released from Eastwood Park prison after a three day hunger strike. An appeal about the unreasonable bail conditions was heard by a judge in chambers who then reduced the 1 km restriction zone around the route of the proposed A30 to a half-mile restriction around the Fairmile site, save for the purpose of travelling on the A30.
These reduced conditions are considered a victory by the A30 protesters who were making a stance against their conditions being unreasonable. Emma is satisfied that the revised conditions, affectionately known as the 'Fairmile Dumpling' (as opposed to the 'Sausage') are reasonable because her everyday activities are not restricted.
Four people remain on remand, and Norman Ormerod yesterday joined the hunger strike. The other three have not eaten since January 28th. A statement was issued by Sarah Baker, one of the prisoners, yesterday.
She said, "The 'Sausage' bail conditions are a politically motivated attempt to silence protest against the new A30." By imposing this bail condition the court took away our right to protest, so we broke it. Now they have taken our liberty and we continue our protest in the only way we have left. "
Candlelight vigils are continuing nightly outside Exeter prison in solidarity with the prisoners.
The A30 Campaign comments, "These people should never have been remanded. They are not criminals, breaching bail is not an offence. It is an outrage that they have lost their liberty yet have committed no crime for it. This situation is viewed as a civil liberties issue. The remaining four protesters should be released immediately. This morning, one of the original hunger strikers needed the attention of a nurse. This is an obvious cause of concern. The other three are believed to be in a more satisfactory condition. They all have the utmost respect of the rest of the campaign.
Swampy, the last protester to be evicted from the Fairmile site, yesterday appeared at Exeter Magistrates Court. He was bailed a kilometre off the route of the proposed A30 pending trial for obstruction of the Under Sheriff.
He was then taken to Reading police station and appeared in court today where he was convicted on a criminal damage charge outstanding from the Newbury protest. He received a £500 fine and has since been released. All the moles are free!
PRESS ARE VERY WELCOME TO ATTEND THE VIGILS.
At 11.00 am yesterday morning I was brought out of the tunnel I had been living in for the past six and a half days. I was dug out by tunnel - rescue staff, normally employed to deal with emergency situations, brought in by the Under Sheriff. My lock on had caved in, as a result of the work that had been carried out by these people. Whilst I attempted to dig out my lock on it was being filled in quicker, as they dug around my door. When they finally entered my tunnel, I was greeted with a cup of tea and a cigarette, the workmen having first shaken my hand.
I was then brought to the surface where I was given a medical check up and pronounced fit & healthy. After being photographed by tunnel rescue staff, police Intelligence Unit staff I was then arrested under section 10 of the Criminal Law Act 1977, for obstruction of the Under Sheriff 's men.
I was released from Heavitree Police station at about 4.30pm, having been bailed off the 1km wide, 19 mile long proposed A30 route.
I was treated with respect by both the workmen and the police.
I stand by my actions as I feel it has raised public awareness, on the issues that we have been campaigning over for more than two years. Not just the A30, but more especially the scam called DBFO. It cannot be stressed enough just how much the taxpayer is being conned by people who want to make a vast profit out of raping the county of Devon. I will continue in my efforts to fight against the needless destruction of my country for the profit of a few money grabbing individuals.
I support the actions of my fellow protesters, who deliberately got themselves arrested by breaking their bail conditions by entering the exclusion zone and who are now on hunger strike.
Love and respect to all of them and I hope that they get all the support that they deserve.
Earlier today, two more of the tunnellers at the Fairmile site were brought out of the tunnel known as Big Mama. Muppet Dave was brought out at 1pm, and Ian was brought out at 3:50pm.
The last protester, Swampy, has agreed to come out at 8.30pm.
This is in the light of further developments at the site of Fairmile.
After negotiators spoke to Swampy earlier today, he agreed to emerge from the tunnel where he had been continuing to dig since the start of the eviction last Thursday.
Swampy is due for a court appearance at Newbury where he is being charged with an offence relating to being late for a bail report, and so will be taken there upon his exit from the tunnel.
The remand prisoners are still on Hunger Strike until their conditions are met.
A press conference will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:30pm at
THE INSTITUTE,
YONDER ST,
OTTERY ST MARY, DEVON.
Further details will be released as they become available.
A peaceful demonstration was held last night outside Exeter prison in solidarity with the two male protesters being held on remand there for breaking their bail conditions. The action was staged as a mark of respect to John Davies and Norman Omorod as well as the women in HMP East Wood Park. After three hours of drumming and singing by candlelight, the thirty protesters moved on when asked to by police.
After seven days underground, the peaceful sit-in in the tunnels beneath Fairmile protest camp continues. One protester is still in the tunnels although two of his fellow protesters, were brought to the surface today. Dave was brought up at 1pm and Ian at 3:50pm, they appear to be fit and well. Both have been arrested. The sheriff's officers have still failed to bring the sit-in to an end despite all the specialist equipment and their continual efforts. We believe that they have under-rated the complexity of the tunnel systems and the dedication of the tunnellers who have now been guarding these tunnels for 168 hours.
At 9:30pm tonight it will be exactly a week since the sit-in began.
The hunger strike by the remanded people continues today. Of the five persons remanded for their protest against the excessive bail conditions given to them, four people are on hunger strike. They have issued demands in solidarity with the tunnellers concerning the contents of the 'secret' D.B.F.O. documents and contracts which have never been made public. They have also called for an end to the draconian bail conditions routinely issued by the police which, in effect, are a sentence without trial and thus constitute a fundamental infringement of our rights as free citizens of a democracy. This is being raised as a civil liberties issue.
Issued at 5:30pm Thursday 30 Jan 1997
Web site: http://www.geocities.com/rainforest/3081/update.htm/
At 9.30 this morning, 5 people climbed a 200 ft high crane owned by Balfour Beatty, next to Big Ben, in central London, and hung a banner declaring their support for the A30 Action! road protest. The banner read
and also seemed to reflect the current mood with its
"WE LOVE YOU FAIRMILE"
message.
They spent several glorious hours enjoying the view over the embankment, IN SPITE OF THE SMOG!! as Transport Police scuttled about below wondering what to do.
When they finally decided to come down, they were arrested and charged with Aggravated Trespass and another, as yet unspecified charge.
They were not held for long, we are happy to hear, and were out in time to enjoy a well deserved pint this evening.
This comes as a welcome gesture from all at Fairmile.
Since Thursday evening the contractors have been using heavy machinery within close proximity to `Big Mama' tunnel and those inside. Within metres of this activity signs were clearly displaying warnings that the use of equipment such as generators and plant machinery would endanger the lives of the tunnellers. We are uncertain as to whether the signs remain as we are not allowed any access ourselves, nor are we allowed any observers on site.
This morning's event demonstrates the urgency of the safety issues that we originally outlined at the start of the eviction. Though the use of heavy plant machinery is undoubtedly jeopardising safety, the numbers of police and security in continual attendance is another illustration of the fact that our pleas not to ignore obvious safety measures are, in fact being disregarded.
The generators have been in use 24 hours a day since first deployment, (despite our repeated warnings), which has inevitably weakened the stability of the ground over the network of tunnels. It is interesting to note that the section of tunnel which has collapsed has done so after being shored up by so-called Safety Officers.
It remains unclear as to whether any of the tunnellers or any of the eviction team have sustained any injuries.
Our requests for impartial observers to be allowed onto the site, our safety measures to be observed and for photographers to be allowed to record the eviction are reiterated here and will continue to be.The entire situation remains soluble, with the previous list of demands remaining valid, but ignored.
The chamber I shared with John was cramped but cosy. It was about 3 feet wide and T shaped with lock ons at the end of the of the T for each arm. The conditions were warm, damp and sandy and it was lit by candles. We ate mostly tinned food along with muesli, chocolate and orange juice. Tunnel life was leisurely and there was plenty of time to reflect upon the road we had pledged to fight.
This road is the beginning of privatisation of roads. The Connect Consortium of road builders contracted to build this road. Connect consists of multinational companies with dubious human rights records, a German construction giant and the Bank of America. Under the experimental "Design, Build, Finance and Operate"(DBFO) scheme, the new A30, with a capital cost of œ75m, will cost the British taxpayer upwards of œ200m. This is an estimate because the true cost is kept secret. The Department of Transport and the Connect Consortium will not release details of the contract to build the road, despite this contract being the sole basis of Connect`s claim to the land we occupy at Fairmile.
This is why the remaining tunnellers will not end their protest until all documentation relating to this DBFO road are made public so that they can be scrutinised by all.
The œ200m will be paid to Connect by future taxpayers in thirty years on the basis of a "shadow toll." Connect will be paid per vehicle that uses the road. It will therefore be in Connect`s direct financial interest to induce traffic congestion to the roads of Devon through industrial and housing development, and by discouraging improvements in public transport. This will contribute to environmental and pollution problems in Devon.
This is why the remaining tunnellers will not end their protest until the Highways Agency reveal all of the financial details of this road to full public scrutiny, particularly the system of payment known as "shadow tolling."
The land, trees and wildlife habitats on the route of the proposed new A30 are being sacrificed for the private profit of the Connect Consortium and the Bank of America.
This is why the remaining tunnellers will not end their protest until possible infringements of the 1765 Enclosures Acts protecting hedgerows are reviewed publicly.
They also require breaches of the 1992 Badgers Act during this eviction to be publicly declared by the Highways Agency, the Connect Consortium and by the Under Sheriff of Devon, Trevor Coleman.
I am a peaceful protester protecting the environment. I was arrested and treated as a criminal while the perpetrators of violence on that environment are financially rewarded by our government at the expense of the tax payer.
This is why the remaining tunnellers will not end their protest until all building and destruction on this road ceases. An unbiased and open public enquiry must be held investigating the use of the DBFO scheme in the building of this road is held.
They require what is left of this beautiful place to be preserved until after a public enquiry or judicial review considers the previously secret information.
I find it rather sad that people must barricade themselves in tunnels to bargain for these conditions which should have been observed as a matter of course.
Finally, I would like to congratulate protesters who continue their protests in spite of emergency communications being cut, unfairly restrictive bail conditions and continual police harassment. And particularly Ian, Swampy and Dave who are holding out in the tunnels. They have high spirits and plenty of supplies to last for the foreseeable future.
Without resorting to violence I had no option but to give up and leave the tunnel. When I agreed to leave the tunnel they told me I would not be arrested. When I came out I was examined by a doctor at the tunnel entrance who pronounced me perfectly fit and healthy. Shortly after the medical examination I was arrested and charged with obstruction of the sheriff. The press had falsely reported that I had come out because of ill health, which caused great distress to my family. As you can see I am healthy and unhurt.
I would like to endorse Animal`s statement concerning our demands and add my best wishes to Ian, Swampy and Dave who are still in the tunnel and were in good health and good spirits when I left them.
At 4:30a.m, people at the peaceful vigil were threatened with arrest if they did not leave within ten minutes even though they remained outside the police cordon throughout.
Eventually the vigil was allowed to continue provided that participants had no property with them, including food.
An hour later the police returned to the property and continued as before awakening children who were asleep inside.
A resident of the house complained to Acting Inspector Howard Smith, based in Exmouth, as the senior police officer on duty of Operation Obelisk - this being the name given to the eviction of anti-road campaigners from Fairmile by the authorities.
At 3.45am, the police returned and again awoke the children who had just settled back down to sleep.
Inspector Smith was contacted again only to reply that he had no "authority over the activities of the police outside". When asked who did in fact have authority he refused to comment.
After a further complaint to the police all their activities appeared to finally cease, only for those at Fairmile to begin.
-----------------------------
A woman who was staying in a bender next to the sett to try and ensure their safety was evicted at approximately 3AM in the early hours of January 26th.
The licence that was obtained to permit disturbance of the sett was granted in 1994, and has now lapsed. Under the Badgers Act 1992, it is illegal to drive vehicles or fell trees within 30 metres of a badger sett. Vehicles have been brought within this distance and branches were being cut from a tree directly above the sett using a chainsaw. Possible breaches of the Badgers Act 1992 are being investigated.
Meanwhile the badgers remain unprotected and independant observers have not been allowed near the sett to watch over them.
Earlier this afternoon the occupants of the `BIG MAMA` tunnel opened negotiations with the Under-sheriff of Devon, Trevor Coleman. His response was to cut our vital communications link with the tunnel occupants, as with the eviction of Trollheim. Despite his assurances at pre-eviction safety meetings, Coleman's actions centre on confrontation, rather than co-operation - he is not prepared to consider the requests of the tunnellers.
There are five protesters remaining underground. They have requested the disclosure of just one document, relating to the 'public money - private profit' A30 which so far has been kept from open scrutiny - it has never been shown to a public enquiry .
An ex-Newbury security guard who joined forces with the A30 protesters was today the last person to be peacefully removed from the trees. The vast majority of security guards who have been spoken to express their understanding and support for our protest, however this man has acted on his beliefs. He has shown his courage and conviction by walking in to our camp three months ago.
Isn't it time we started talking about D.B.F.Os?
AT 7.10 AM ON SUNDAY 26TH OF JANUARY THE POLICE AND SHERIFFS OFFICERS EXTENDED THE CORDON AROUND THE AREA BEING EVICTED TO AN EXTRAORDINARY MILE SQUARE AREA. AS A PART OF THIS PROCESS THEY HAVE REMOVED PP3, THE PROTESTERS COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE (THE ONLY SAFETY LINK TO THE TUNNELS). THIS IS IN BREACH OF ALL THE ASSURANCES GIVEN BY THE UNDERSHERIFF IN PRE-EVICTION SAFETY MEETINGS. IT IS PREVENTING MONITORING OF THE SITUATION IN THE TUNNEL.
DESPITE THESE ACTIONS AGAINST US WE WERE ABLE TO ISSUE A SET OF DEMANDS WHICH IF MET WILL MEAN THE OCCUPIERS OF `BIG MAMA` WILL CEASE THE PEACEFUL PROTEST. WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE THIS THROUGH DIALOGUE DESPITE THE UNDERSHERIFF'S BULLY BOY TACTICS.
It is a small demand to make that the public be allowed to review one contract upon which all of this destruction is based. Why is the Highways Agency keeping it secret????
We will leave the tunnel system if the above demands are met by representitives of CONNECT and the Highways Agency releasing all the documents and ceasing work immediately followed by a statement sworn in front of the media saying they will hold a fresh public enquiry.
It is now 39 hours into the eviction of the camp at Fairmile and up to 25 protestors have been arrested. Many have been taken down from the trees peacefully and released without charge, one person has been taken to hospital and the latest news is that she is comfortable and in good spirits.
The main tunnel system is still holding well. The potholing access team have just breached the main entrance after 30 of slow painstaking work, as of writing none of the undergrounders have been removed.
There have been several arrests this morning for attempting to breach the cordon and protestors have also been arrested for sitting up trees outside the cordoned off area. Access to the Fairmile camp is still possible despite police and security extending the cordon and closing footpaths prematurely.
Two people negotiating the safety of the badger population onsite have just been arrested for breach of bail conditions, along with increased security activity around the sett obviously heightens our concerns for the badgersand we are asking Chief Inspector Dale to explain why, after requesting a meeting, they have now arrested our negotiating team.
For background see: http://www.geocities.com/rainforest/3081/
At 10 p.m. on Thursday 23rd January Trevor Coleman, the Under Sheriff of Devon, in collaboration with the Connect consortium comprising of The Bank of America, Balfour Beatty, Philip Holzman Associates and WS Atkins, moved in to destroy our 2 year old community of resistance at Fairmile on the route of the proposed private profit A30 Bypass.
Due to half an hour's advance warning the residents were in position in the network of underground tunnels and in the aerial tree village.
Twenty four hours into this forced eviction, the atmosphere amongst the protesters is jubilant.Protesters still inhabit the trees. The extensive tunnel network known as "Big Mama" is holding strong. The forces of darkness have failed to penetrate its inner defences, despite working all day.
A protracted siege has commenced with double coils of razor wire being laid between two fences cordoning off the camp and police dogs being used to deter entrance. These actions are compromising the safety of everyone in the area. Despite this high numbers of protesters have breached the cordon.
This morning security guards trampled over an area containing the badger sett. Tubes were inserted into the sett and the area has now been fenced off. Possible breaches of the Badgers Act 1992 are being documented and investigated. Impartial observers have been denied access.
Arrests so far have been kept down to seven, the majority of whom have already been released. Morale is good.
The use of police for the third time to back up the interests of an American bank and consortium of multi-nationals is a sad comment on their impartiality. The dubious financing of this development through the Design Build Finance Operate scheme is the start of privatisation of road ownership in this country. The Connect Consortium foot the bill for construction and maintenance and then get paid back over 30 years on the basis of "shadow tolling" : the Government pays per vehicle that uses the road. In order for DBFOs to be profitable the Connect Consortium therefore must encourage vehicles to use its roads through development of adjacent land and discouraging public transport improvements; DBFO roads are therefore designed to induce congestion in pursuit of profit.
It is ironic that the eviction of the longest established roads protest camp should come on the day that both the Government and Labour Party front benches supported the Road Traffic Reduction Bill, conceding to the pressure and arguments long advanced by the roads protest movement.
For background see Internet - http://www.geocities.com/rainforest/3081/
DESTRUCTION COMMENCES AT FAIRMILE PROTEST CAMP
At 10 p.m. on Thursday 23rd of January Trevor Coleman Undersheriff of Devon in collaboration with the Connect consortium comprising of The Bank of America,Balfour Beatty, Philip Holzman Associates and Ws Atkins, moved in to destroy the 2year old community of resistance at Fairmile on the route of the proposed private profit A30 Bypass.
Due to half an hour advanced warning the residents where in position in the underground network of tunnels and the aerial tree village.
The privately hired professional climbers took advantage of the darkness to blindly cut rope access walkways at heights exceeding 50 ft and police were used to shine lights in to the eyes of protesters who where not wearing safety harnesses. During this period a protester did fall and was not attended to by medics for over five minutes. Luckily she is not seriously injured.
The police have formed a cordon around the site and have been using dogs in the area. Despite this at least 12 more protesters have been able to breach the surrounded area and get up the trees to join their colleagues. The police are not allowing the independent legal observers the opportunity to watch the proceedings.
After the initial haphazard attempts to remove people from the emplacements the police appear to be content with their closing of the area and appear to be waiting till first light for the eviction to fully commence.
The fact that the police are being used for the third time to back up the interests of an American bank is sad comment on their commitment to any form of justice. Despite this the residents will non-violently resist the destruction of their homes and ourcommon heritage.
7am 24 January 1997
A police cordon was thrown around the camp awaiting first light to begin removing those in the trees and in the labyrinthine tunnels under the ground.
Spirits remain high as those locked-on to their tree houses exchanged calls of support with those outside the cordon.
As one of the Under Sheriff's men said to a local:
The manner in which the Bailiffs conducted themselves at the eviction of Trollheim questions the stated intention to evict the A30 protest all safely and professionally. What follows is a detailed account of the Bailiffs treatment of the Trolls. Heavy machinery was brought up to the edge of the fort almost immediately causing major vibrations shifting shoring and causing cave-ins. This was dismissed as not a cause for concern by the authorities. It was only the high standards of construction methods used by the Trolls that averted an immediate disaster. Legal observers were refused admittance and one, present in Trollheim when they arrived was ejected. All subterranean protesters cited examples of excessive force being used to gain access, causing shoring and ceilings to begin collapsing in one instance despite assurances from those below that they would leave peacefully and open exits at dawn. Bailiffs ignored pleas to slow down and proceed with caution. One protester was threatened with a beating whilst locked on if he didn't release himself. Machinery was used in a number of instances in close proximity to protesters without safety equipment being provided. Protesters were removed by wrists or ankles handcuffed to ropes and dragged out from the surface. They gained access to the main tunnel by forcing the door so violently that shoring began to disintegrate. All three occupants agreed leave peacefully at first light, at approximately an hour and a half before dawn. This request was denied and ventilator pipes were cut. The Under Sheriff claimed that they had installed their own ventilation system at this point, which is untrue. Two protesters were then removed on ropes using unnecessary force. In the process of their eviction shoring and walls were destroyed,communications channels were cut and all food and water was removed. The third protester who was locked on was tied up by the ankles and then pulled by three bailiffs from the surface to establish that he was unable to release. They then left him stretched out unable to move on a taut rope for half an hour. The presence of a doctor brought in to monitor a suspected unconscious protester made the difference between life and death. The doctor arrived and assessed the situation. He ordered the immediate installation of vents, oxygen, communication channels and the reshoring of the tunnel. He described the behaviour of the bailiffs as"like *%$*ing animals". We think that the bailiffs behaviour is an insult to the animal kingdom. Someone or something was looking out for us but it certainly wasn't the Under Sheriff and his men.
All legal observers were removed from the fort under threat of arrest and heavy machinery was swiftly brought in threatening the safety of the Trolls below ground. The fort was breached and partially destroyed to allow access. People are now being removed from any lock-ons but it is far from over.
The mood at the fort is as calm as can be possibly expected. The absence of a private security force and the high numbers of police involved must bring into question the financing of the evictions. Can Devon and Cornwall police afford this operation? Why did the Connect Consortium not send Security to assist? Who is paying for the excessive policing at the protest camps?
We, the Trolls, use no violence in the defence of this land but are passively and peacefully resisting eviction. We do this not because we are brave or foolish but because we have to.
We are driven to these extreme measures by a Government who enforces an outmoded transport policy, privately funded by the Bank of America, with its catastrophic environmental effects, onto the people of the Westcountry. This road is part of a greater scheme, the London to Penzance trunk road. This is no more likely to bring long-lasting prosperity and quality of life to the area than all other road development schemes to the Westcountry.
It is time that the Government began to listen to its people, to be truly accountable for this land to once again be ruled by the people and all life that this earth sustains. We cannot deny nature for we are part of it. To destroy our natural habitat is to destroy ourselves.
Bailiffs arrive as the site sleeps. All the trees are cut down. 2 arrests are made, one for aggravated trespass, one for previous warrants.
As suspected, the Sheffield climbers who helped in the Newbury evictions are down here, again helping with the evictions.
We need as many people to come down as possible - please, please give any support you can.
The protesters consider the Under Sheriff's attitude to health and safety to be highly dangerous and urge him to meet with them to discuss these issues.
All quiet on the road protest front, but...
Police harrassment of the Dongas continues. Having been evicted fromFairmile on Wednesday 9 October under Section 61 of the CJA, the Dongas were today evicted from land on Dartmoor. The police arrived late this afternoon with horse-boxes ready to take the animals and social workers ready to take the children. The Dongas were given one hour to get off the land. With horses this is simply not possible.
Fortunately, a very helpful local land-owner happened to be driving past at the time. She allowed the Dongas to camp on her land. We're all very grateful to this lady for her help and would like to thank her for helping the Dongas out of this totally unfair situation.
A digger digs a 12 foot pit behind Trollheim to do soil tests. Protesters sit in the pit as the contractors try to fill it back in. A cherry-picker is seen driving along the A30 with a police escort.
Surveying takes place on route.
20 police search the home of AAA's Jim Cauty for explosives. Cauty is arrested under suspicion of possessing a sonic weapon, but is later released without being charged.
Police and riot police arrive at Trollheim and load the saracens onto a low-loader. Protesters try to prevent the low-loader from leaving with the tanks by lying in the road in front of it. The riot police move in and a 16 year old girl is injured. The saracens are impounded.
Cauty later tells press he has no regrets and considers AAA's operation a success.
The new Fluff Central camp is evicted by 6 van loads of police and a van load of security guards under Section 61 of the CJA.
A large amount of police activity is noted around the camps and on the A30.
Local TV news broadcasts interviews with local residents complaining about the noise from the new AAA sound system. Do these people not realise they're about to build a road?
As of 2300 hrs 19.10.96 the armoured division of the A.A.A. Formation Attack Ensemble established a front line defensive position at the Trollheim Hill Fort, Fairmile, Devon, in collaboration with A30 Action in defence of the threatened trees, badgers and some insects.
At dawn on 21.10.96, the Triple A will activate their S.Q.U.A.W.K. 9000 sonic device in response to any offensive action taken on behalf of the Connect consortium.
The @utonomous communities of Fairmile, Trollheim and Allercombe have resisted the soul destroying consumer nightmare of the private profit A30 through a 2 year campaign of Non-Violent Direct Action. Now armed with the 2 Saracen armoured personnel carriers both loaded with 15 Kilowatt Soundsystems and weighing over 10 tons they intend to dance in the face of the legions of destruction.
THE EVICTION PARTY WILL BEGIN ON MONDAY THE 21ST OF OCTOBER
Security have allegedly been hired as of Monday 21 October.
Protesters disrupt a meeting of solicitors, bailiffs, senior police, a representative of the climbers and the Under Sheriff at Michealmores Solicitors in Exeter. Police arrive quickly and one arrest is made.
Protesters stage a sit-in at the Exeter offices of W.S.Atkins, a Consultant Engineering company involved in planning the new A30. No arrests were made, but a protester's camera was snatched.
Court rules that Fairmile camp may be evicted at any time, except for the land occupied by one caravan. A final court case on Tuesday 15th October will decide the fate of this land.
Eviction order is granted for Trollheim, so the fort may now be evicted at any time. However, local farmers fail to get a possession order on the unoccupied land surrounding the fort.
At 8 am 120 police arrive and, under Section 61 of the Criminal Justice Act, give the Dongas tribe 4 hours to leave the field between Fairmile and Trollheim where they have been camping. At 12 pm the Dongas are escorted off the land by the police.
Meanwhile a digger is used to flatten the paintball center behind Trollheim, guarded by Pinkerton's Security and a police cordon.
Allercombe lose the court case. Eviction could legally begin at any time.
Final eviction notices received. Protesters told to appear in Exeter High Court on the following days:
Eviction could legally begin immediately after the court cases.
These dates are just two days after Fairmile and Allercombe's second birthday, the 5/6th of October. There will be a party at Fairmile on Saturday 5th October.
Notice received instructing protesters to vacate all three camps by Sunday 22nd September 1996. This means we expect to receive legal papers on Monday 23rd September.
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