New tree protest in Shepton Mallet

[rowan]

A new development by Tesco in Shepton Mallet will mean the loss of 2-300 trees, up to the age of 200 years old.

A protest started on the site today, and the BBC are interviewing the organisers on site tomorrow morning at 10am.

Anyone who would like to help save these trees please come and help either tomorrow morning (sorry for the short notice!) or whenever you can make it. Lots of people are needed, the protest is win-able but desperately needs more people!
The site is land to the South of Townsend, West of Station Road and East of Shepton West.

More info and updates will be posted here and here

Site contact number 07749110689

 

[FruitandNut]

“Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money.” - Cree Indian saying.

Does the Mallet really need another supermarket? If the Council recieves backhanders, will they use them wisely? Are there no more brown field sites left in the area?

Good luck with the campaign.

 

[rowan]

“Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money.” - Cree Indian saying.

Does the Mallet really need another supermarket? If the Council recieves backhanders, will they use them wisely? Are there no more brown field sites left in the area?

Good luck with the campaign.

Most of it is a brownfield site, but the trees are all that remain of woods that were mostly destroyed for development years ago.

They now want to finish the job and destroy the rest

There is already a Tesco in the town but this is meant to be a much bigger replacement. Anyone would think they wanted to monopolise the shopping in the town

 

[Lost Zoot]

Hows it going? how big is it?

 

[rowan]

Tesco have applied to the high court for an injunction and they'll be trying for eviction at any time - it nearly happened today. Construction is supposed to be starting first week in March.

There a few more pepole there now but not enough to prevent an eviction.

The BBC and ITV and local papers have been on site a lot - the Parliamentary Small Shops Group releasing their report the other day has got the media interested in a current campaign against tesco

Anyway, regular updates are being put on the link in my first post.

And they're still calling for more people.

 

[TeeJay]

Bloody trees!

*wanders off to a road protest*

 

[rowan]

The eviction planned for this morning didn't happen, hassles with health and safety because of the tunnels and underground lock-ons

They've now got more tree houses and a community centre so there's room for more people to stay. Please come and help, just for a day or two would be great, but longer if possible.

The site is land to the South of Townsend, West of Station Road and East of Shepton West.

Site contact number 07749 110689

Regular updates Here

Please spread the word, many thanks

Rowan xx

 

[Lost Zoot]

k i want to go so much going to try and drag a few people with me some time before the weekend.

 

[rowan]

They've just come out of the high court, and justice HAS NOT been done.

They were asking for just another week to prove their point but the court wouldn't listen.

Eviction can now be expected at any time, may be a bit late for today but all hands needed ASAP because they could surprise us.

Although they shouldn't be starting work on the site yet because the nesting season starts on March 1st, and one of the Planning Consent Informatives is:

"The applicant is advised that it is an offence to disturb bats or nesting birds. Therefore, close inspection of the tree should be undertaken prior to the commencement of works to determine if any bats or birds reside in the tree. If any birds are found then no works should occur while they are nesting, which may be at any time between the months of March to September inclusive; if bats are present works should cease until the applicant has obtained further advice from English Nature on 01823 283211 "

One of the objections states:
"Substantial loss of trees. Believes bats are present and another survey should be carried out."

More info on www.mendip.gov.uk/pods/AppInfo.asp?AppNo=118085/001

Please spread the word.

xxx

 

[rowan]

Have just read this on the updates link above:

"hopefully there should be a phone interview with ollie today on indymedia radio london show on resonance fm 104.4

the show runs 1-2pm and streams in the web at http://www.resonancefm.com

 

[Lost Zoot]

I wont be able to come now i've got a job a interview today *scary scary* if i get it i wont be able to go anywhere, if i dont get i wont have any money to go anywhere. I hate when i put things off i might have been able to go before... Good luck to ollie and everyone there.

 

[wiskey]

surely theres enough tesco's around there? and at least one (?)wells is 24hr.

 

[twysted]

there was quite a good anti tesco story on the news just now on itv.
i didn't realise how big a site it was and how old the trees are. thoughts are with you olly. i think miss twysted is going to have to get used to the idea that i want to go and support him. she so isn't going to be happy, i mentioned it to her the other day and she gave me a very sideways look and said well i wouldn't stop you BUT.

 

[rowan]

Wouldn't Ms Twysted like to go with you, a few days away in a nice little campsite in Somerset?

And she wouldn't even have to sleep in a tent if she didn't want to - they're using one of the factory canteens as a community centre

 

[twysted]

Wouldn't Ms Twysted like to go with you, a few days away in a nice little campsite in Somerset?

And she wouldn't even have to sleep in a tent if she didn't want to - they're using one of the factory canteens as a community centre

no unfortunatly she has to work and to be honest also doesn't have the enthusiasm for it at all. i have told her i'm going and i hope to be leaving on monday morning. i'll be hitching from bedford so i will be quite late porbably. see you all soon.

 

[atomik]

Anyone would think they wanted to monopolise the shopping in the town

In fairness, Shepton's a ghost town already. It doesn't need Tesco to kill it off!

 

[rowan]

They're Back!

After the evicition on Monday, Activists are back on site today and
up the trees. They are asking for anyone who can to get there ASAP.

The trees used for the last camp were destroyed after the eviction,
but there's around 180 still waiting to be saved.

More news as it comes in.

Cheers xx