City Strolls - events - meetings
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Urgent callout - tree cutters moving in to Dalkeith country park, Edinburgh
As of today, Wednesday 23rd November, Dalkeith park is under immediate threat. I spoke at 2pm to somebody there and she says they need support immediately. They expect to be evicted tomorrow, 24th November. They have tree houses that they are occupying but need support. Even people standing as witnesses on the ground around the trees can make a huge difference to the safety of those in the trees. Cameras, medics and legal observers are likely to be useful, but anybody able to get there at such short notice is requested.*** URGENT- Tuesday, 22 November 2005 Eviction Ordered This afternoon, the 48-hour notice from the Sheriffs Court was delivered to the protest site at Dalkeith Country Park. Earlier this morning, tree felling was started. Five trees were lost including a beautiful old oak before protesters successfully blocked any further cutting and halted work. In response, the liaison officer delivered the 48-hour notice stating all occupiers needed to leave during that period or face prosecution. More People are urgently needed to protect this woodland!
Background On Monday 31st October, protesters set-up a tree-sit to stop the destruction that will be caused by the Dalkeith Northern Bypass of the current A68. The tree-sit is in Dalkeith Country Park, a historic 850 acre park that serves as a valuable wildlife habitat and is visited by 50,000 people annually. The proposed bypass would cut the wildlife habitat in two, and while the 1999 Strategic Road Review noted it would offer journey savings, it also noted the bypass would cause "generally negative ratings in the other environmental factors, including global air quality, water, ecology, visual impacts, heritage, and landscape character." Although construction is not supposed to begin officially until the summer of 2006, because of the early spring nesting season of birds and bats, tree-felling is to begin immediately. In response to this emergency, anti-roads protesters have set-up a tree-sit and walkways in the pines that are in the path of the extension. Protesters will also be present at Midlothian Council's upcoming public review to help present the case against the bypasses through Dalkeith Park and through Bilston Glen. Protesters will remain in the trees until the bypass is defeated.
Contact Dalkeith Protest Site Phone: 07783904369 E-mail: dalkeithtreesit@cyber-rights.net For more information on the campaign to Save Dalkeith Country Park, visit the website of the legal campaign: http://www.save-dalkeith-park.org.uk/ There is a petition on the Scottish Executive’s site running until the end of November: http://epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk/list_petitions.asp Or you can email Midlothian Council directly at: local.planreview@midlothian.gov.uk or phone at Tel: 0131 270 7500
Directions to the Protest Site The site is in a stand of pines on the north side of the River Esk after the two branches have joined and near the cut for the overhead electric lines. Enter Dalkeith Country Park at the north end- entrance off of the A6094 at Smeaton Lodge (between Dalkeith and Whitecraig). Go past Home Farm towards the River Esk, after crossing the bridge the protest site can be accessed by the first farm track on the left (note the site is not accessible for vehicles). Alternatively, enter Dalkeith Country Park from the main entrance off of the High Street in Dalkeith. Stay on the road leading to the right past the adventure playground, shop and cafeteria; after passing the grazing fields and the power line cut the road will split. Take the left fork towards the River Esk. After crossing the bridge, the protest site can be accessed by the first farm track on the left. From Edinburgh, Lothian Buses 3 and 3a go to Dalkeith.
Bob, 17:02
