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VegfestUK Bristol 2013 (May 24th - 26th @ the Amphitheatre) May 22 13 Riots Reframed - Documentary May 22 13 Get Growing Trail May 21 13 Bristol Eco Village evicted - one villager with potentially serious injuries bristol |
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news report
 Wednesday May 05, 2010 21:18 by Roowyrm
 Bailiffs acting for the High Court on behalf of the land owner today succeeded in evicting the Eco Village from their site in St Werberghs. After entering the Eco Village site this morning, bailiffs persisted through the day in their attempts to evict all Eco Villagers from the St Werbergh's site. Local residents joined villagers in an increasingly desperate attempt to prevent this. Although a cherry picker was turned away, a digger was finally brought on site. Attempts had been made to prevent this by climbing onto it, but the digger operator evaded this by aggressive driving, throwing at least one person to the floor. |
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Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15The UK’s most notorious anti-Gypsy security firm, responsible for the brutal Twin Oaks eviction in 2004, says it expects to take on the biggest clearance operation ever mounted against a village community in Britain in modern times.
Constant & Co., which has earned tens of millions of euro clearing Gypsies from their own land in barely legal, hard hat-style sorties around England, now wants the contract to demolish Dale Farm, home to 500 Travellers near Crays Hill, Essex.
The job, worth three million euro, would involve removing, and in some plots smashing, chalets and mobile-homes, and physically forcing up to 90 families, including children, the elderly and infirm, to leave the district, impoverished and with nowhere legally to live
Because of the high cost of the work, Basildon have been compelled to put it out to tender in the official Journal of the European Union. The closing date for bids is mid-August.
In its ad the council states that the winner bidder must ‘demonstrate a commitment to upholding the principles of equality and diversity legislation and be sensitive and responsive to the needs of people.’
However, Basildon has already indicated it favours re-engagement of Constant, a firm the council has already employed for a number of small evictions. Critics say these were conducted in a way that flaunted EU health and safety regulations, and resulted in the needless trashing of huge quantities of private belongings
Photographs illustrate how at Hovefields no perimeter fencing was erected and children were allowed in close proximity when heavy machinery was in motion.
While the council justified its use of s178 of the Town and Country Planning Act to restore Greenbelt, land at Hovefields has been left derelict. Top-soil has been destroyed and the plots surrounded by high earth berms.
Much of the ground is now flooded with contaminated water from broken cess-tanks, posing a danger to health for children and adults who continue to live nearby while awaiting further Constant incursions.
CARAVANS ON FIRE
A film produced for Dale Farm Housing Association shows caravans on fire as bailiffs manhandle screaming children. One plant-hire company has discontinued renting to Constant, branding its approach brutal.
Referring to the Twin Oaks eviction, Justice Collins said in the High Court that having seen a video of Constant at work he considered the bailiffs’ conduct unacceptable as it inevitably led to harm to those affected.
“The council must re-consider the use of this firm,” stated Justice Collins. He also noted that the police had failed to curb the excesses of Constant bailiffs.
So, we know who the bailiffs were, but who is this mysterious beast that is referred to all along as "the landowner"?
Details please. Name and shame ....
Constant & co. are responsible for the some of the most violent and horrific evictions across the country, specializing in brutalizing Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities.
One could inform them in a variety of formats that their activities are other than desirable making use of the details below:
Constant & Company
66 Harpur Street,
Bedford,
MK40 2RA
(t) 01234 340091
(f) 01234 301299
bedford@constantandcompany.co.uk
Never mind who thinks they 'own' the land - a better question would be 'who's gonna save the planet', from the greedy and the stupid fools who are busy fucking up the planet for profit?
"The saving of our world from pending doom will come, not through the complacent adjustment of the conforming majority, but through the creative maladjustment of a nonconforming minority."
Martin Luther King, Strength to Love, p27
It would be so much better if instead of asking superficial questions you did a bit of basic research!
If you could be bothered to watch the video - or better still visit the Eco Village itself - you would have seen the flag with "Don't be silly - this land has no owner" emblazoned on it.
Please don't expect others to raise your awareness levels all the time, go learn stuff for yourself, get out more to where it matters.
@Villager and squintz at fools
Erm excuse me I think your being a bit fucking rude to JSS, its a very reasonable question.
Im someone who visited your site a few times and I unreservedly support your right to live their and I believe that 'the earth is a common treasury for all'. and have spent my life fighting for that ideal.
This doesn't mean that I am not aware that every square inch of this island is claimed by someone or something. This 'landowner' has evicted good people off that land before you and im sure he will do it again, knowing his name and address should be public knowledge not your private tool. The other residents in the area still have a fight for that land on their hands!
I'm also someone who knows that your campaign has had some slightly worrying dictatorial tones in aspects of it implementation which I have dismissed as a 'oh they will learn thing' and haven't commented on before but I can assure you that alienating aspects of your support is a good way to loose that support!
Incidentaly I was in the area of your eviction and recognised one of the shitheads from constant and co from about 8 years back (notice how I swore there!) and am aware that they are the biggest bunch of fuckers in the already crowded bailiff pond-life stakes. And not deserving of politeness from anyone
How is the guy who had his legs injured? Is he out of hospital?
Have the rest of you got somewhere to stay for now?
Sorry to hear the outcome.
Seems the question is what now?
Move on and start again or get even.
I'd say both.
There's some knowledgeable people contributing here.
We have baliff details and as for land ownership - other than the obvious - 'this land is our land' sayings, try finding out who its registared to, i.e. a land search:
Land Registry will respond to written requests for information within the time limit set by the Act, which is 20 working days. Such requests need not refer to the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
The Act allows public authorities to charge a fee for processing freedom of information requests. Land Registry will normally try to provide the information free of charge, but reserves the right to make a charge to cover the cost to the organisation of obtaining and distributing the information.
To learn more about the Act, read our Freedom of Information web page.
Publication Schemes
The Information Commissioner approved a new model publication scheme which should be adopted by all public authorities with effect from 1 January 2009.
Land Registry has adopted the new model scheme.
The Land Registration Rule Committee Publication Scheme is also available.
http://www1.landregistry.gov.uk/access/
If it is true the police witnessed what went on and did nothing to ensure no-one got hurt get an officer's collar number - preferably the one in charge and start a complaint to the IPCC
http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/
Of course people could return to the site and take up were things were left off. At the least this will cost someone to keep us out.
But my prefered option is that Bristol and surrounding activists set up a site on Colleage Green right under the council's noses in way of protest against this unacceptable behaviour.
Even take over that fucking cathedral until the 'powers that be' learn a little respect for fellow human beings.
You think I'm rude?
Take a look at this post from JSS of a little while ago: http://www.bristol.indymedia.org.uk/hidden_articles.php...48100
JSS is NOT about being constructive in any way, if you wanna side with folk who get off by calling good hearted activists names then ....... well thats your business.
I hope you and JSS read the post from Tim Harris on Kevins condition now that he has been released from hospital.
Perhaps you might like to other Kevin a bit of support instead of defending the likes of JSS?
I was under the impression that the landowner had agreed for his land to be used for this project? Am appalled at the treatment of the squatters, but not surprised. Could the eco-villagers now just focus on getting the cash together to buy some land? Otherwise I fear you are doomed to failure. There must be a way... BTW I wish that poor guy all the best and hope he recovers soon.
@scwintz
Well I have no idea what JSS has said before and no idea who they are. as your link just goes to the general deleted items list and Im not about to read pages and pages of irrelevant crap.
I'm not defending someone I don't know, who made some statement I haven't read. I'm simply saying that the question who owns the land is one worth answering not one worth being rude about!
Also if you read my comment you might notice that I 'unreservedly support' you and ask after the fella in hospital and all of your collective well being.
Where is this post by 'Tim Harris' its not here as far as I can tell. (maybe its the time delay thingy)
the reason people on here would like to know some more info is so that we can offer practical support.
Tim Harris's comment is on the featured version of this article
http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/692402#comments
Also if you scroll to the bottom of the page squintz linked to you can read the comment he refers to
Well indeed! Saying that nobody owns this land might be admirable, but it is not very constructive. Unfortunately, under the system in place at present, somebody owns it, so rather than being in denial, like it or not, it would be better to at least recognise the concept of ownership that others undoubtedly have and work within it AS WELL as outwith it.
So, if those formerly at the village either don't know, or won't tell who "landowner" is, I probably am not going to spend my time looking into it if you can't simply answer my original question and make the landowner's name public. Why can you not make the name public?
The fact is - it was the landowner who instructed the bailiffs - so their identity IS as relevant to the public as is that of the bailiffs.
As another commenter said (thanks to you!), you should recognise support from other than your own standpoints and not alienate it. I am disgusted at the actions of the bailiffs, I hope the injured person is not hurting too much, is not feeling too bad about the events and is making a full recovery. I am truly sorry to see the village evicted.
As to the other "hidden" comment I made that has now been "unhidden" on this thread: as an experienced railway worker I was merely stating, for the safety of those concerned, that chaining yourself to an operational railway line with no means of escape is a stupid and extremely dangerous thing to do. You will note I clearly support the protesters goals, but in that case NOT their methods.
Not name calling at all - if someone does something that is unbelievably stupid, they should expect to be called stupid.
I am currently discussing with IMC vol on what grounds that post was hidden, as I regarded it as a post promoting the personal safety of those concerned - and therefore it wasn't very responsible for IMC to hide it.
@squintz at fools, Villager and Six
I've now read the 'tim harris' comment and I sincerely hope y/our comrade is recovering. Any more updates?
But I have also now read JSS' comment about the foss-y-fann coal train and whilst I disagree with this persons position (I know that many people are prepared to risk their life for just causes and so they should) I cant actually see what's wrong with his/her post.
Admittedly saying the activists qualify for the Darwin awards is a bit rude but I suspect the Rising Tiders were aware of the extrema danger of death they were in and took the action they took anyway. My feeling is that this persons comment is valid (if wrong in my opinion) and should not have been hidden by BIMC.
So is the reason your not sharing what info you have on the landlord and what what happened in your “negotiations' because you didn't like a persons previous comment on another action, if this is the case its childish to say the least,
I would love for this discussion to move on from this and onto how we can all build on the campaign you had going there
Does anyone actually know the name of the landowner? Did they bother to do any research before starting this project, which at first I thought was legit. I offered to donate various things, fortunately nobody took me up on the offer so my stuff hasnt been trashed or stolen by the police.
Re-reading the post "Eco Village Resistance - Game On!!" makes me suspect that there is a certain element here who is actively seeking confrontation, and that this has become an end in itself to some people. I'm not excusing the fascist bailiffs, but surely ownership and permission to use the land is the first thing you should check out? Many people (myself included) signed up to your Facebook group with geniune good intention, not realising that it could potentially put lives at risk. Artspace Lifespace never seem to have these problems, perhaps because they negotiate first?
Freddie - JSS posted the details on this thread
http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/692427