Destruction
of Thrupp Lake Begins
[posted
16/02/2007, updated 18/02/2007, more pictures 21/02/2007,
23/02/2007, press links 06/03/07, 08/03/07, 09/03/07,
16/05/07, 18/05/07, 27/07/07]
Click
to see more pictures
RWE
Npower have started to wreak their destruction at
Thrupp Lake. The massacre of wildlife began, somewhat
aptly, on St Valentines Day.
A
protester, who, up until then, had been engaged in
a lonely vigil outside the Sandles property, enduring
some of the coldest and wettest weather of the winter,
was arrested for daring to trespass onto npower's
land in an attempt to persuade men wielding chainsaws
to stop cutting down trees. He was pinned to the ground
by several goons for half
a hour before being allowed to sit up. After
over an hour had elapsed, the regular police turned
up, in significant numbers, and removed the protestor,
who somehow subsequently ended up in hospital having
sustained serious injury.
On
Thursday, RWE npower issued a High Court injunction,
in the name of John Rainford, the power station manager,
effectively preventing anyone from photographing the
goons or any of the activities underway at the Lake.
The injunction was issued under the Protection
from Harassment Act 1997, which is a draconian
piece of legislation intended for dealing with quite
different circumstances. It seems that the goons felt
that they were being harassed by the local people
(!) and demanded protection.
The reality,
and probable intended purpose, is that the injunction
effectively prohibits lawful protest and, through
restrictions on photography, proper reporting what
is currently going on at the lakes. TV companies,
for example, are not interested in anything they cannot
get pictures of, pictures that they can publish.
**
Pictures **
This
is a serious piece of legislation that was never intended
to be used in this way. It is also a blanket order
that, although it is addressed to named defendants,
actually applies to anyone to whom notice of its terms
have been given (although nobody is exactly sure what
that means - it could be like the plague, so that
even coming into contact with it or knowing about
it makes it applicable to you). Anyway, it is being
scattered about like infectious confetti onto anyone
visiting the lakes. Once this is done, anyone actively
opposed to npower's plans, and for some reason this
has included the press and media, becomes subject
to all sorts of restrictions. This includes loitering
within 5 yards of a goon, npower contractor or employee,
or photographing them; and failing to obey their instructions
will make you liable to arrest.
Meanwhile,
in the background, the rasping sound of chainsaws
continues unabated. Several islands have since been
cleared of trees, and the destruction is expected
to continue until the end of the month.
A
protest march is planned for tomorrow, Saturday 17
February. For update on this, see subsequent News
Story.
