VESTAS INTERESTS

It’s been eventful at Vestas recently with police busting barricades, arrests and court appearances.

Last week police managed to remove the majority of the wind turbine blades from the site after breaking up the protest camp early in the morning. Arriving before protesters had a chance to lock on or get up a tripod, cops handed out dispersal agreements, including a map showing the area recipients were banned from entering for three months.

Threatened with arrest and bail preventing them from returning, they moved out. Three hours later the blades were loaded onto waiting barges. Cops and heavies were swarming around the area all day, snuffing out any chance of direct action.

The week before, police arrested four activists who had scaled a crane in an attempt to stop removal of the blades (see SchNEWS 691). Their court hearing took place on Tuesday (29th). After the four pleaded not guilty and elected to have a jury trial, the date was set for March 16th next year. The judge also eased some of the draconian bail restrictions previously imposed banning them from the Isle of Wight completely and preventing them from even seeing each other.

The next day was the turn of James Beecher, up on charges of aggravated trespass and going equipped to cause criminal damage, after being nabbed climbing into a wind turbine blade with ‘Save Vestas’ stickers, tape, glue and cable ties. James also elected for a jury trial and was released on bail until November 27th.

Vestas workers and activists also made it to Brighton last weekend as the (Indian) Summer of Mild Irritation descended on the Labour Party conference, taking place spitting distance from SchNEWS HQ (although despite our best efforts nobody managed to land a greenie on Lord Mandy). Trying to bring the campaign to the assembled grumpy trots and miffed liberals, one worker addressed the crowd from the sound system van while another spoke at the post-protest meeting.

Back on the Isle of Wight, demonstrators are regrouping. The camp at the magic roundabout is still going strong and actions continue. In recent days activists have set up a Vestas theatre, with the site gates as the stage and po-faced security guards as the starring thespians.

As ever there is still plenty to be done and more support is urgently needed. “The campaign is definitely not over,” Jackie told SchNEWS, “it’s just changed its direction.”

* See www.savevestas.wordpress.com