Fears of violence at road protest (From Thisisdorset)
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Fears of violence at road protest
10:57am Saturday 20th December 2008 in
THE stand-off between road protesters and Dorset County Council could turn violent, it was feared today.
The council has gained a possession order for a strip of ancient woodland it is clearing for Weymouth’s relief road and a spokesman said it will enforce it against any trespassers.
The Green Party’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for South Dorset, Brian Heatley, said he feared this could affect what has been a peaceful stand-off at Two Mile Coppice so far.
He said: “I hope the result of the hearing is not that this descends into violence. It’s all been good natured so far and I hope it will remain that way.
“This remains a civil dispute between two groups but I’m concerned this is going to turn very ugly and people are going to get hurt.”
The protesters have camped in an oak tree that remains as the stand-off point as it sits inside the land being cleared.
They are also camped beneath its branches in land owned by the Woodland Trust, using ropes to access the tree without needing to walk across the fenced-off ground.
A protester, known as Dave, said: “We are told it is an offence to be in the oak tree, but where we go up and down is outside the council’s land.
“We will be here as long as it takes and if they are expecting us to leave over Christmas they are wrong. I have been in a situation like this where professionals have been sent in to remove people from trees on Christmas Day.”
The Woodland Trust has also asked the group to leave. Spokesman Steve Marsh said: “We asked them to move on as we don’t allow camping in our woodland.
“If they don’t move we would have to look at getting a court order. Hopefully, it won’t come to that and there’s no harm in them being there during the day.
“We are not against the protest – in fact we are for it – but we can’t distinguish between them and others that have been asked to leave our woodland.”
Meanwhile, the chairman of Dorset’s branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) reacted angrily to the Government’s decision to pay £79.2 million towards the road.
Howard Thomas said: “This decision drives a coach and horses through the Government’s claim to sustainable development.”
Comments(51)
maximus
says...
11:17am Sat 20 Dec 08
Genghis
says...
11:23am Sat 20 Dec 08
duff
says...
12:07pm Sat 20 Dec 08
duff
says...
12:07pm Sat 20 Dec 08
maximus
says...
12:37pm Sat 20 Dec 08
I wonder how 'duff' gets his food and other household supplies without using roads, even if he/she is only crossing them and perhaps duff can tell us how food is to get from grower/manufacturer without roads, fly through fairyland?
terra firma
says...
1:13pm Sat 20 Dec 08
sagalout
says...
2:08pm Sat 20 Dec 08
Genghis
says...
2:14pm Sat 20 Dec 08
maximus wrote:Really Maximus, as you should know all eco-warriors are self-sufficient. They grow their own food, produce their own clothes, collect the water they need from the rainfall and produce the electricity they use from treadmill generators. Being paragons of virtue they don't even produce rubbish or waste products.
If they are accessing the site by ropes then these should be cut since they are trespassing on the site which extends upwards from the land. I wonder how 'duff' gets his food and other household supplies without using roads, even if he/she is only crossing them and perhaps duff can tell us how food is to get from grower/manufacturer without roads, fly through fairyland?
maximus
says...
2:49pm Sat 20 Dec 08
highbloodpressure
says...
5:27pm Sat 20 Dec 08
Birdseye
says...
8:28pm Sat 20 Dec 08
No matter what an individual me think about the road, the fact remains that this Government has once again failed to live up to the fine words in its manifesto.
The only good thing about this road - if it lives up to to all the hype - is that Weymouth folk will be more inclined to ignore our shoddy town, and take their buying power to the decidedly more upmarket Dorchester. (Roll on the conversion of the Eldridge Pope Brewery site).
pachyderm
says...
9:05pm Sat 20 Dec 08
highbloodpressure wrote:Not if a power cable came through my doorstep...anything to cut my electric bill !!
If they planned to build a nuke power plant on your doorstep I bet all you "hang 'em high" rednecks would join the ranks of the protesters.
AdPwnzHalo3
says...
9:40pm Sat 20 Dec 08
highbloodpressure wrote:Im sorry but when did a road that helps people in so many ways get compared to a nuclear power plant? OH yes, thats right... they BOTH help people and have more Pros to Cons.
If they planned to build a nuke power plant on your doorstep I bet all you "hang 'em high" rednecks would join the ranks of the protesters.
And Birdseye, no one from Weymouth likes Dorchester!
staffs
says...
10:09pm Sat 20 Dec 08
We all know they won't go quietly so just get some tear gas and "Escort" them from our property.
Either that or just bulldoze the lot of them, which ever is easiest.
Genghis
says...
2:00am Sun 21 Dec 08
highbloodpressure wrote:Indeed in the same way you would join the ranks of the supporters if they planned to rip up the rest of Two Mile Coppice or to flatten Bincombe Bumps to build a wind farm. After all that would be an eco-project and therefore good.
If they planned to build a nuke power plant on your doorstep I bet all you "hang 'em high" rednecks would join the ranks of the protesters.
Phaedrus
says...
10:20am Sun 21 Dec 08
mikeman
says...
11:50am Sun 21 Dec 08
dar
says...
12:30pm Sun 21 Dec 08
Sammy Treadlight
says...
2:34pm Sun 21 Dec 08
Blueboy
says...
2:39pm Sun 21 Dec 08
Sammy Treadlight
says...
2:51pm Sun 21 Dec 08
Blueboy wrote:I have news for you - the motor vehicle is here to stay and cannot be uninvented. It will be significantly cleaner in years to come (as it is now compared to 20 years ago) and there will be a day when it is likely to be powered by an alternative, cleaner energy system - but one thing is for certain, it is not going away, and needs to be catered for. Especially in a special case like this one and which has been thoroughly considered through the formal planning process.
I sometimes look at these comments and think those of some of the pro road lobby are frankly so stupid and short sighted it beggars belief! Can't any of you see beyond the end of your petrol sodden noses? Answer - clearly no!
fishman68
says...
2:53pm Sun 21 Dec 08
Blueboy wrote:I love the high and rightous rhetoric from you Blueboy, must be marvellous to be so right. How would suggest I travel to Weymouth without a combustable fuel! are you inventing a new fuel or selling a new fuel technolgy??
I sometimes look at these comments and think those of some of the pro road lobby are frankly so stupid and short sighted it beggars belief! Can't any of you see beyond the end of your petrol sodden noses? Answer - clearly no!
So Mr Rightous what is your worldly long sighted advise on public transport then!! There is a saying that is appropriate is your instance 'Empty vessals make the most noise' I look forward to hearing your pearls of wisdom so that we all be enlightned.
duff
says...
4:12pm Sun 21 Dec 08
Blueboy
says...
5:11pm Sun 21 Dec 08
Albo
says...
5:26pm Sun 21 Dec 08
The risk is they might forget all about the tree-bound protesters and set their sights on the juicy plump targets that are the security guards that have done such a fine job so far.
Still, it'll be a chance to see Darwinian natural selection in action, and that can't be all bad.
Genghis
says...
6:10pm Sun 21 Dec 08
duff wrote:Excellent examples. People are free to choose the option of a bike, car or public transport at the moment.
further to the discussion of NO more roads its a pity weymouth residents dont take more notice of other countries like Holland where the bike is more inportant and above all forms of the combustion engine also the isle of Hydra where donkeys are the main form of transport and the average age is 90 - I rest my case.
As for the other one, Hydra happens to be a small island. It therefore does not need road links with other places. However it does have links with the Greek mainland and other islands in the Aegean by ship and helicopter. Guess what kind of fuel they use? I'll give you a clue, they're not donkey powered.
You could have also used examples of Yak transport in the Himalayas or Llamas in the Andes.
dopey
says...
7:09pm Sun 21 Dec 08
"further to the discussion of NO more roads its a pity weymouth residents dont take more notice of other countries like Holland where the bike is more inportant."
They don't have Ridgeway to cycle up ! Guess a few puffs of wacky-backy and a pair of clogs does the trick for you ?
dar
says...
7:43pm Sun 21 Dec 08
ex so'ton
says...
8:52pm Sun 21 Dec 08
Jenny466
says...
10:14pm Sun 21 Dec 08
For example:
" The tree-huggers are a pathetic, childish, puerile bunch who have completely lost the argument and who are now resorting to typical anarchist tactics! Anybody that supports them are now condoning law-breakers. "
So; to protest against a road which is both unnecessary and severely damaging towards the wildlife; is condoning law breaking? Is it not childish to condone such a thing with little reason or justification? You seem to hold no opinion of your own on this matter; it is not about an 'argument' it is about making a stand and standing up for what is right. To call peaceful demonstrators ‘pathetic’ and ‘childish’ with absolutely NO explanation goes beyond ignorance. This road will make no difference to the amount of congestion; it will simply enhance it whilst simultaneously tearing apart ancient woodland.
If the government continues to contradict itself with green wash such as 'sustainable' development against numerous plans to build new roads, the effects on OUR climate will be disastrous and irreversible. Unless people such as so called ‘tree-huggers’ make a stand and create debate; little will be done to stop such mindless destruction.
Albo
says...
7:42am Mon 22 Dec 08
mark@greenhill
says...
7:46am Mon 22 Dec 08
The long and short of it is, that without it this town will continue to die.
the due process of planning and public consultation has found that not only do the majority of Weymouth buisinesses, but the vast majority of residents also want this road.
by all means protest if you must, but by resorting to throwing the toys out of the pram and stamping your feet at 2 mile coppice, you make the protesters appear in their true light of, simple bully boys who have no respect for the laws of the land or the democratic process.
these pathetic gestures will undermine the anti road brigades argument quicker than anything I or the thousands of other motorists could ever do.
fishman68
says...
8:51am Mon 22 Dec 08
Blueboy wrote:Blueboy, What a fruitless argument you clearly lack off academic prowess. What on earth, does Obama have to do with finding alternative fuels?? The way you refer to Obama, is he the next Messiah perhaps?? Is Obama going to run the UK political scene introduce a radical new transport policy for Dorset?? I don’t think so m8, so time to get real and stop dreaming in land cuckoo.
Sammy Treadlight Cars won't be uninvented obviously but their life as thay are is very limited - peak oil almost here, electric cars need polluting power stations to charge them (not enough nuclear) and so on. fisherman68 -"..must be marvellous to be so right..." - well in a way, yes, (altho I wish it was on something different). People should have put more pressure on DCC to spend their money on a decent public transport system that people would actually want to use. As for empty vessals - its you lot making all the noise!! You obviously don't agree with anything Barack Obama is saying (or perhaps he's another "empty vessal" in your opinion?).
What really infuriates me is your crass comments eg. ‘DCC to spend their money on a decent public transport system’ So even if the local transport system was half decent why on planet earth am I going to spent twice the money to travel from my small village into Weymouth daily when there is no train or Bus link! Typical “empty vessal" thinking why don’t you think before you post blogs your argument is clearly flawed at best and relies on fairyland assumptions. Build the **** road now! and arrest the jobless tree pixies and counter charge them for the court and construction delay costs!
fishman68
says...
8:56am Mon 22 Dec 08
Jenny466 wrote:Jenny is another clearly deluded 'Empty Vessel' running with flawed arguement! Get you facts right first before supporting illegal protests!
I cannot believe the amount of narrow minded comments that have been posted on this site. For example: " The tree-huggers are a pathetic, childish, puerile bunch who have completely lost the argument and who are now resorting to typical anarchist tactics! Anybody that supports them are now condoning law-breakers. " So; to protest against a road which is both unnecessary and severely damaging towards the wildlife; is condoning law breaking? Is it not childish to condone such a thing with little reason or justification? You seem to hold no opinion of your own on this matter; it is not about an 'argument' it is about making a stand and standing up for what is right. To call peaceful demonstrators ‘pathetic’ and ‘childish’ with absolutely NO explanation goes beyond ignorance. This road will make no difference to the amount of congestion; it will simply enhance it whilst simultaneously tearing apart ancient woodland. If the government continues to contradict itself with green wash such as 'sustainable' development against numerous plans to build new roads, the effects on OUR climate will be disastrous and irreversible. Unless people such as so called ‘tree-huggers’ make a stand and create debate; little will be done to stop such mindless destruction.
Genghis
says...
9:49am Mon 22 Dec 08
Jenny466 wrote:I keep running this one out and still none of the "environmentalists" have answered it.
I cannot believe the amount of narrow minded comments that have been posted on this site. For example: " The tree-huggers are a pathetic, childish, puerile bunch who have completely lost the argument and who are now resorting to typical anarchist tactics! Anybody that supports them are now condoning law-breakers. " So; to protest against a road which is both unnecessary and severely damaging towards the wildlife; is condoning law breaking? Is it not childish to condone such a thing with little reason or justification? You seem to hold no opinion of your own on this matter; it is not about an 'argument' it is about making a stand and standing up for what is right. To call peaceful demonstrators ‘pathetic’ and ‘childish’ with absolutely NO explanation goes beyond ignorance. This road will make no difference to the amount of congestion; it will simply enhance it whilst simultaneously tearing apart ancient woodland. If the government continues to contradict itself with green wash such as 'sustainable' development against numerous plans to build new roads, the effects on OUR climate will be disastrous and irreversible. Unless people such as so called ‘tree-huggers’ make a stand and create debate; little will be done to stop such mindless destruction.
Jenny, you say that the ancient woodland is going to be torn apart. From my understanding it's only a strip of land whose total area is equivalent to a football pitch. Hardly wholesale destruction.
You also say this road will severely damage the wildlife in the area. The same argument was made before Weymouth Way was built. Radipole Lake was to be polluted killing all fish and insect life. The reed beds would die. The swans and all the other birds would never be seen again. Twenty years on and Radipole Lake is thriving. As reported in the Echo even a rare species of bat has set up home along the border with the road. Hardly the Doomsday scenario set out by the environmental lobby.
Now please will you be the first environmentalist to comment on what happened to the eco-disaster prediction for Weymouth Way? Do you see the problem that somebody like me has? I don't drive but I've looked at the arguments for and against and in my view the road will benefit Weymouth. The environmentalists' argument is a carbon copy of the one they used for Weymouth Way and umpteen other developments. In very few of those cases have their prophecies come to pass and certainly hasn't in Radipole Lake. Do you think the environmentalists should review their methods by concentrating on facts rather than playing on people's emotions? Or is it because the facts don't support their arguments?
fishman68
says...
9:55am Mon 22 Dec 08
Your argument including facts! is very articulate and concise- well done!
mikeman
says...
11:27am Mon 22 Dec 08
GIVE ME A CHAIN SAW I WILL DO IT.
fishman68
says...
11:36am Mon 22 Dec 08
Yeah agreed! I would prefer the tree is cut down with the idiots still in the tree. With any hope it might knock some common sense into the fools!!
Baxters
says...
11:45am Mon 22 Dec 08
maximus
says...
11:51am Mon 22 Dec 08
Baxters
says...
11:54am Mon 22 Dec 08
Genghis
says...
12:07pm Mon 22 Dec 08
Baxters wrote:Yes accidents happen, welcome to the real world. My point however was that the predicted wildlife holocaust at Radipole Lake never happened.
" Otters seen by the river Wey " Yeah dead. Run over by cars travelling along Weymouth Way. Wildlife is extremely resilient, no doubts, but the fact remains that wildlife is adversely affected by road building, not least ......habitat destruction.... It is this needless destruction that people object to.
But why stop with road accidents, Baxters? Wild animals die by accident everyday in a whole range of human activities. How many dormice, field mice, rabbits, even the odd otter sometimes, die when the crops are harvested? Should we all climb up trees and protest until all crop growing is stopped? Wheat is murder.
stevieboy
says...
12:16pm Mon 22 Dec 08
Albo
says...
12:44pm Mon 22 Dec 08
S'funny, whenever I go into a veggie restaurant and demand the meat option I get thrown out. Why the intolerance?
fishman68
says...
12:44pm Mon 22 Dec 08
stevieboy wrote:Stevieboy,
To all those who can't see the point of the new road. I am considering applying for a job in Blandford. Could the anti-relief road brigade suggest how public transport can get me from Weymouth to Blandford for 8.30am?. At the moment the car seems the only option and in theory it should take 45mins; but as everyone knows traffic does not flow smoothly along Dorchester road and at least the new road will avoid the school run for Wey Valley etc Also as a considerable number of hold ups are caused by roadworks due to the utilities running down Dorchester Road needing attention those delays will be a thing of the past.
I have excatly the same issue travelling into Weymouth from Maiden Newton everyday. The only option I have is to travel by car. These so called Eco-pixies expect people like us to have a teleport system or magic flying carpet I presume. I am yet to hear to a coherent arguement from these non-sensicle people on the reduce our reliance on cars!
As always waiting for a sensible explaination on how best to address the age old question on sustainable, effiecient and practical transportation for Dorset.
Blueboy, has confessed to be 'a know it all' but is yet to enlighten us car users!
Genghis
says...
1:44pm Mon 22 Dec 08
Albo wrote:A few of us were fed up with our veggie mates trying to convert us to pasta. I had some pictures of a dormouse with that slogan made up and handed them out at dinner when we were in Brighton for a conference. I was asked to leave the restaurant funnily enough. Well worth it though.
Genghis: "Wheat is murder" made me spit coffee at the screen. Top marks. S'funny, whenever I go into a veggie restaurant and demand the meat option I get thrown out. Why the intolerance?
Blueboy
says...
11:30pm Mon 22 Dec 08
Genghis
says...
1:06am Tue 23 Dec 08
Blueboy wrote:What because I asked questions that the anti-road protesters can't and won't answer? Because I looked at all the arguments and made my mind up based on fact rather than blinkered emotion? If that's your reasoning then I think I can live with that.
fisherman 88, genghis, albo etc - what a complete shower!!
Or if it's about my little prank tell me what was wrong. Vegetarian mates hand me "meat is murder" leaflets when I'm eating. I just returned the favour. Is that a problem?
fishman68
says...
8:27am Tue 23 Dec 08
Blueboy wrote:Blueboy; Sorry to lower the tone on this blog but in retort, bluemincer can't even copy my name correctly let alone produce a constructive arguement supporting his views.
fisherman 88, genghis, albo etc - what a complete shower!!
Once again the many years of public consultation aside this muppet can even argue his corner!
All I can say is he must a real loser!
Albo
says...
8:30am Tue 23 Dec 08
Blueboy wrote:As the Dada-ists worked out in the 1930s - the best way to defeat extremist lunatics is to laugh at them. And there's nothing funnier than a crusty up a tree in the middle of December.
fisherman 88, genghis, albo etc - what a complete shower!!
fishman68
says...
5:18pm Tue 23 Dec 08
Blueboy wrote:I presume in the blinkered view of Bluemincer his previous comment should have read; fishman 68, genghis, albo, majority of Weymouth's local residents, Wyke Regis, Portland, Dorchester, Dorset, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, England and so on....... etc
fisherman 88, genghis, albo etc - what a complete shower!!
Nevermined what the majority of residents want eh?? A small glimpse in the Dictatorship that is Blueboy's world!!
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